Maintain your upgraded ICT network

All schools have had their ICT infrastructure upgraded through the School Network Upgrade Project (SNUP), allowing them to make the most of ultrafast broadband. Schools are responsible for keeping their ICT network maintained to the current Ministry standard.

Hire an approved ICT contractor

If your school's planning to do maintenance or repair work to your ICT network you need to use a Ministry approved contractor. These contractors are the registered installers of the cabling product already in place in your school.

Using Ministry-approved contractors means warranties provided for existing installations don't become void.

Approved ICT contractor list [XLSX, 61 KB]

Responsibilities of a Ministry-approved ICT contractor

Budget for maintenance

Your school property plan includes a budget for maintenance of your school ICT network. Make sure you plan for the:

  • cost of any cabling repairs from your 5-year budget (5YA) or Policy 1 funding
  • replacement of network switches and/or wireless equipment from your furniture and equipment (F&E) budget or other funding source.

5 Year Agreement (5YA) funding

Policy 1 funding for capital work at integrated schools

Furniture and equipment for state schools

Every 5 years you’ll need to budget to cover for failures and technology developments in switch and wireless hardware. The expected life of your cabling is 15-20 years.

Upgrading your school network

If you're planning an upgrade to your ICT network read the ICT Infrastructure in Schools Operations Manual which covers the processes and scope for installations and upgrades.

ICT infrastructure in schools operations manual

New or relocating schools

Any fibre connection to a new or relocating school is arranged by the relevant build project. Contact us if you have any questions.

Email: network.upgrades@education.govt.nz

Information for ICT contractors

Contractors are asked not to enter into separate warranty agreements with schools.

Between September 2018 and 30 June 2020 the Ministry is providing subsidised IT network support extensions to schools whose wireless and switch hardware warranty has exceeded the 5 year anniversary of their Wireless School Network Upgrade Project (WSNUP).

Te Mana Tūhono - Information Brief [PDF, 417 KB] 

Factsheet — Extending network support for switches and wireless [PDF, 736 KB]

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