"The technology isn't all that difficult. The harder part is the human part-deciding questions like, how does this technology integrate with our existing classes? Do we want to charge, or charge extra, for access? What courses are best taught using this system, and what instructors are willing to try to use it? Even the most basic questions are often overlooked: what Web pages will link to the Webcast? We can get drawn into inter-departmental debates over these kinds of issues. If a customer of ours can answer these questions before they get an Avacaster, they're in great shape."
"Teacher buy-in is often a concern," Boznos echoes. "No school wants to spend thousands of dollars on software that isn't used so we're willing to give trial licenses to schools that qualify so teachers can explore and test the waters before jumping in." The trial is of their hosted service, not the hardware, and is for 30 days. Training is also free.
SCHOOL PREP
Once a deal is done, "preparation time is always needed to develop and promote (internally and externally) the online program-especially if the school doesn't already have a significant distance learning department," says Boznos, "Typically, the installation takes place one semester prior to Avacaster classes going online so teachers and staff can decide how to best take advantage of the new technology and add the course offerings into the school schedule."
Whenever installation does take place, it doesn't take long. Terrell is proud to note "typically our customers are up and running on the install day," and his customers back him up. Choctaw Nation's Coston says, "The Avacast system is almost plug-and-play. It took about an hour to set up the first and connect to another location." Meanwhile, 21st Century Cyber School's Stapleton reported, "It was just a few hours of setup-very easy."
Subsea cable alternatives can provide a level of comfort for those concerned about disruptions. Realistically, they will continue to play a small, but critical role in the short term.
Maintaining existing network infrastructures often incurs huge technical debt before newer technologies are adopted over time.
Amid ongoing regional uncertainties, telecom infrastructure in the Middle East has expand to include terrestrial low-latency network infrastructure, which offers resilience and agility in navigating political complexities without relying solely on undersea networks.
