Thiruvananthapuram: At least 4,000 Kerala schools will get access to high-speed broadband internet connectivity, thanks to a deal between the state government and the state-run BSNL.

IT@School Project of the Kerala government will also provide high-speed VPN (Virtual Private Network) over broadband internet connectivity to 300 education department offices in the state.

K. Anvar Sadath, executive director of IT@School Project, said the agreement will also enable unlimited data sharing without the need to avail normal internet bandwidth.

"Kerala has achieved this unique landmark of high speed broadband connectivity to all schools, a feature that is unavailable in schools and colleges in any other state in the country," said Sadath.

The new VPN based broadband connectivity would be provided to 2,461 high schools, 1,236 higher secondary schools, 377 vocational higher secondary schools, 233 upper primary schools, offices of deputy directors, district education officers and assistant education officers, District Institute of Educational Technology offices and 35 block resource centres.

"A 100 Mbps leased lined connection supported by a MLPS (Multi Protocol Label Switching) with 20 Mbps bandwidth would be the backbone for establishing the VPN model," added Sadath.

BSNL has provided the new VPN model of broadband connectivity at 1/5th rate of the existing market rates. The shift to VPN mode would be completed by April 2011. IANS