Improving and expanding access to education opportunities for all students has long been a goal for policymakers, educators, and parents in Serbia. In recent years, the government has emphasised the importance of broadband communications technology as a means for achieving this goal. Broadband can help connect teachers to students, parents, and free educational resources. Broadband also helps schools share classes, curricula, and other resources. Lack of broadband connections for rural schools will become a growing problem for Serbia if steps are not taken now; one-fourth of all students attend a rural school and in recent years rural enrolment growth has outpaced growth in all other school locales. Without adequate high-speed internet infrastructure, rural schools and the students they serve will be left behind.
This project aims to support rural broadband infrastructure development in 3 phases. It enables the deployment of broadband infrastructure and school connectivity in 'white zones' in rural areas. Schools will obtain fibre connectivity (1 Gbps+) while passed-by settlements and households get access to the networks.
