Battenberg comprehensive school now with fibre optic connection
The expansion of the digital infrastructure in the district is one of the central topics for District Administrator Dr Reinhard Kubat. In his view, the new technologies strengthen rural areas - and are an important criterion for the future viability of regions. Since many of the large providers shied away from investments in the area, the five counties in the administrative district of Kassel launched the Breitband Nordhessen GmbH (BNG) in 2014, one of the largest initiatives for digital innovation in Europe. The goal was to provide both commercial enterprises and private households in structurally weak areas with fast fibre-optic internet.
"Of course, the schools have also had a central position in our considerations from the very beginning," says the district administrator. "Even before Corona, we knew that we had to expand the basis for digital education as quickly as possible. In the business area of Breitband Nordhessen, 17 schools have been equipped with fibre optic connections so far. However, BNG is only allowed to operate in areas where other providers are not already on the market.
However, the aim was to offer all schools fast internet. In this case, fast internet means a download speed of 400 Mbit and an upload speed of 40 Mbit. These are minimum services, which in some cases are even significantly exceeded. "Of course, we intend to equip all schools with modern fibre-optic technology in the medium term," says the district administrator, formulating his goals.
He was therefore particularly pleased that the Battenberg Comprehensive School was the first school outside the business area of Breitband Nordhessen to receive a fibre-optic connection. The largest school in the upper Eder valley has 35 classes and a total of almost 800 pupils. With the new technology, the conditions are now in place for each class to conduct video lessons. Pupils and teaching staff can also dial into the existing WLAN network with their own devices and use the digital offerings. Whether presentations, homework or videos, everything that is offered digitally can now be shared in the classroom and in homeschooling.
The school management of the Battenberg Comprehensive School is also pleased about the fibre optic connection and the resulting prospects: "Finally, high-speed internet for schools in the upper Eder valley. The teachers and pupils have been waiting for this for a long time. We are well prepared for the new possibilities through many previous training courses and are all the more pleased because last summer, as a result of the complicated tendering procedure, things looked very bleak with regard to the internet connection." At the end of the day, this is an excellent example of the realisation of meaningful concerns when the school parents' council, represented by Mrs. Theis, the booster club (first chairman Mayor Junker), the municipality (Mayor Klein) and the school authorities (in the person of District Administrator Dr. Kubat and Mr. Baraniak) are committed to it.
Although the Battenberg Comprehensive School is the first school outside the BNG area to benefit from fibre optic technology, others will soon follow: 17 schools will still be equipped this year, promises District Administrator Dr Kubat. The digitalisation offensive at the schools enjoys absolute priority and he is convinced that soon all locations will be able to benefit from the new technology and the future of learning in the district will begin.