Reliable internet access is essential to modern education, providing both students and staff with the tools they need to succeed—whether it’s accessing learning platforms, conducting research, or collaborating online. At St. Peter Chanel Catholic College of Secondary Teacher Education, strengthening IT infrastructure has been a key priority, with a particular focus on building a reliable wireless network across the entire campus.

One of the biggest challenges has been ensuring strong connectivity not only across the field to the more remote boys’ dormitories, but also inside the actual dorm rooms for both male and female students. The goal is to allow all students to study at their desks in their rooms with dependable internet access.

To meet this challenge, the college’s IT team has partnered with Tyler Rosolowski, a network engineer from New Zealand’s Volunteer Service Abroad. Together, they’ve taken a hands-on, problem-solving approach—climbing trees, poles, and rooftops to position antennas and signal boosters in just the right places.

“The challenge has been to get a good wireless signal over a large distance and then through buildings into the boys’ accommodation,” said Tyler. “I think we are starting to  achieve that. There are a couple of particularly tricky spaces, but we are in the process of ordering new wireless equipment to help boost the signal – we are nearly there!”.

Thanks to this work, most of the dormitories now have wireless coverage, giving students across the college the ability to study independently, anytime, from the comfort of their own rooms.