Networking & Wireless

All-in-One Service Caters to Schools Needing Wi-Fi Networks

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 04/07/15

A telecom and business communications company has released a new set of services intended to provide schools and districts with access to wireless technology. ADTRAN announced ProCloud.Edu, which includes cloud-managed infrastructure for the wired and wireless network as well as centralized, browser-based network management, content filtering, classroom device control functionality and capacity planning help. The announcement comes just days after the company said it was making a big play for education networking business through state procurement deals.

The purpose of ProCloud.EDU, according to ADTRAN, is to help schools set up their 1-to-1 programs without "burdening" IT departments with the work of managing new infrastructure. Schools can also customize the deployment with added implementation services and help desk support.

"Anticipated E-rate funding for Wi-Fi, along with a burgeoning number of education applications is driving classroom wireless adoption," said Nolan Greene, research analyst for IDC's Network Infrastructure Group. "New solutions are needed to plan and deploy secure classroom Wi-Fi while also addressing policy controls and ongoing maintenance in a lower-touch way in order to support the best learning environment possible."

At the end of March the company kicked off a national program for schools, districts and education consortiums, which are pursuing funding to build out their networks under the newly revamped E-rate program.

"Schools today are facing increasingly complex demands when it comes to ensuring consistent, adequate and secure wireless access," said Michelle Southerland, ProServices product manager. "The ADTRAN ProCloud.EDU solution brings together a hardware and software suite to provide a world-class, secure Wi-Fi network that facilitates a new vision for mobile learning. Educators will now have the modern technological tools needed to maximize both teacher and student achievement."

Among ADTRAN's school customers are Pittsfield Public Schools (MA), Aubrey Independent School District (TX) and Bishop Riordan High School (CA).