The Challenge
Toowoomba Catholic Schools, overseeing 33 school sites, faced recurring issues with their cabling and fibre networks. The infrastructure was vulnerable to vermin damage, which chewed through cables and disrupted internal connectivity.
With schools relying heavily on cloud services for both teaching and administrative functions, any downtime significantly impacts operations.
Comtel's Solution
Our team at Comtel immediately set to work, auditing the fibre and cabling infrastructure at TCS sites. Fibre connectivity solutions were implemented, ensuring damaged cables were repaired and connectivity was restored as quickly as possible.
Beyond immediate repairs, Comtel conducted fibre audits and legacy cabling assessments, helping the Diocese better understand and prepare for future issues with preventative maintenance.
This proactive approach allows for more efficient planning and a reduction in callouts. Comtel initiated regular, fortnightly meetings with the Toowoomba Catholic Schools IT Operations Manager, to discuss ongoing issues and future needs which has enabled the schools to better address cabling concerns and plan site upgrades.
The Result
Since partnering with Comtel, Toowoomba Catholic Schools has seen significant improvements in network reliability. With Comtel’s rapid response and expertise:
Uptime has improved, with fewer school connectivity disruptions.
Fibre connectivity has been enhanced, allowing for increased data transfer speeds (up to 10GB) to support the growing demands of streaming and online learning.
Vermin-related issues have been mitigated, and ongoing cabling audits have reduced the likelihood of recurring damage.
Additionally, Comtel has helped deploy updated PA systems, assisted in the implementation of Microsoft Teams dialling for improved connectivity, and upgrades to Wi-Fi networks (point to point) across various sites. This relationship is beneficial to the future development of Toowoomba Catholic School sites and ensures the schools stay connected and are well-positioned for future expansions.
“Comtel has supported Toowoomba Catholic Schools to maintain high technology standards by providing timely and effective solutions, ensuring that students and staff can operate without interruptions.”
~ Paul Watkins, Information Services Operations Manager, Toowoomba Catholic Schools
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