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Older ISDN services supplied to Sandwell schools

 

Before schools were connected to the Broadband Sandwell network, Internet connections in schools generally used ISDN technology. This was supplied by an NGfL grant many years ago, and was subsequently paid for by schools individually.

Schools were advised that after being connected to the Broadband Sandwell network, these connections are no longer required and schools should consider cancelling any outstanding contracts.

Your old Internet connection consisted of several components, these were typically:

  • A charge for the ISDN line itself, payable to BT
  • A charge for "Schools Internet Caller", allowing the ISDN line to connect to a pre-determined ISP telephone number that starts with 0820, payable to BT (part of ISDN charge)
  • An ISP charge for Internet services, payable to an Internet Service Providers, such as Dialnet (Redstone) or RM
  • Other premium services, such as Webexchange (Redstone) or CampusWorld

 

Schools should have considered the need to keep these contracts once connected to the Broadband Sandwell network, and can save money by cancelling those contracts which they no longer use, as follows:

  • The Schools Internet Caller tariff costs £790 per annum. If you are not using the ISDN line at all (The Broadband Sandwell network does not use it) then you should cancel your ISDN line contract with BT.
  • (Some schools have reused the ISDN line to provide other services, such as:
    • telephone lines for the school
    • telephone lines for CCTV systems, (we are now connecting schools' CCTV systems through the broadband network: call for details)
    • for ISDN Video Conferencing (see this link for details of videoconferencing without ISDN costs)
    If your school still requires the ISDN line, call BT and change to a less expensive tariff. The Schools Internet Caller tariff is costing extra but providing NO benefit.)
 
  • Any older ISP contracts with (eg) Dialnet/Redstone or RM may no longer be needed, unless these contracts are being used to cover other ISP services such as email. (Please note that email services are available from Sandwell council or the Learning Gateway for Sandwell schools)
  • The webexchange contract (Redstone) is still required for secure data transfer to the LEA

Any questions, please contact Keith Chandler on 0121 569 2400