New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards

Project PROBE

Amos Aked Swift (NZ) Ltd, Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Education

Project Probe was a collaborative development by Government and industry to encourage and subsidise the extension of broadband internet services to remote New Zealand schools and their communities

Project Probe was developed by a team from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Economic Development and Amos Aked Swift (NZ) Ltd of Wellington. AAS was appointed to direct and manage the project, and involve local government, communities, schools nationwide, telecommunication service providers and network operators.

The result has been an increased use of broadband services, and, it is claimed, increased competition in the telecommunication market. Above all, a major stimulus has been provided to the schoolchildren and the communities concerned. Learning opportunities have been improved, IT skills increased, and new job opportunities should result.

The Government has asked the company to explore the extension of Project Probe to Niue and Tokelau, a further endorsement of the success of the project.