Kiwi kids asked to imagine an Ultra Fast Broadband enabled world

The government is spending $1.5 billion on the rollout of New Zealand’s Ultra Fast Broadband (UFB) infrastructure over the next 10 years with priority initially being placed on businesses, schools and health services. This is also being supported by the Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) designed to improve Internet coverage in more remote areas.

This is a powerful investment in the future of New Zealand with many exciting benefits yet to be discovered.

Telecom is therefore asking Kiwi school students for their thoughts by launching the ‘Amazing Ideas Search’ schools competition, which will run during Term 3 from July 16 to September 28, 2012.

Jason Paris, Telecom’s Chief Marketing Officer said, “The roll-out of UFB and the RBI is exciting for New Zealanders as we move towards a new generation of connectivity.”

“Understanding what will be possible in the future is part of the journey, so we’re asking the next generation of leaders for their thoughts, ideas and dreams,” he adds.

To enter the ‘Amazing Ideas Search’ competition, school students around the country must come up with innovative, creative, big ideas with the new UFB technology at its core.

Ideas can be based on anything around how UFB will change our day-to-day lives including the way we learn, how our health services are delivered, the way we do business, how we entertain ourselves or even how we look after the environment.

For further information and details on the ‘Amazing Ideas Search’ please visit the competition website - www.telecom.co.nz/amazing.


Editor’s Note:

To check out the All Blacks’ take on why Kiwi kids should enter, click on this video link: http://youtu.be/JLqc--kJ5ws

 

‘Amazing Ideas Search’ Competition Facts:

Individual students, groups, or whole classrooms can enter the competition and a teacher must submit any entry.

There are 10 cash prizes of $2,000 for the schools that come up with the top 10 winning ideas.

The $2,000 cash prizes will be divided into two categories: five winning ideas from primary/intermediate students (years 1-8) and five winning ideas from secondary level students (years 9-13).

The winning schools will be encouraged to spend the prize money on technology products and services for their school.

There are also three spot prizes of a Samsung Galaxy tablet to be won and these winners will be picked from all those who enter the competition.

The competition opens 16 July 2012, the first day of Term 3, and ends at 11.59pm on 28 September 2012, which is the last day of Term 3.

Entries will be shortlisted by the Telecom team with the winners chosen by a judging panel and winners will be notified before 19 October 2012.