According to a 2006 study by America’s Digital Schools, “The Internet bandwidth per student is 2.90 Kbps. Schools
say they will grow this to 9.57 Kbps per student by 2011 – a 3.3 fold increase. But projections say as much as 40 Kbps may be needed in just a few years as the number of computers in schools increases and the ways in which students use
70% of Network Bandwidth is Under Utilized
computers change, more and more bandwidth will be needed.”
In addition, many IT departments face the gradual loss of control as teachers use the Internet to access video from YouTube and other sources. The use of video from on-line and non-approved sources can impact school districts in two ways: (1) online video slows down the network causing delays and other problems for users in the district and (2) the individuals responsible for curriculum no longer have control over the tools teachers use which may or may not cause problems with state and local standards.
Are bandwidth issues impacting your district? Does open access to on-line video produce potential problems with
standards and compliance? Are you budgeting for a 14 fold increase in bandwidth? Would you like an alternative solution to this problem?
Today, rather than increasing total bandwidth, school districts can save money by utilizing their dormant bandwidth.
A typical network is operational at normal to peak usage for about 10 hours per day. That leaves 14 hours per day (plus
Double Bandwidth Utilization Information Kit
weekends) dormant and underutilized. What this means is that schools pay for 100% of their bandwidth but only use 30%. Thirty cents on the dollar is used, 70 cents per dollar spent is wasted.
