UK students to be offered access to IPTV network

Colleges, universities and schools connected to the Janet academic network will have access to educational programmes

The Janet education network is to offer IPTV programmes

Some 18 million UK students could soon have access to educational programmes via IPTV.

Universities and education network Janet is to partner with the Open Student Television Network (OSTN) to provide educational, foreign language, news, and entertainment television content via IP technology to students at colleges, universities and the majority of schools in the UK.

OSTN features a 24/7 worldwide channel devoted to student-produced programming, airing content from more than 50 higher education institutions.

OSTN gives students the experience of working with a national network, producing material for a national audience, and presenting their work in a national forum.

Janet UK chief executive Tim Marshal says the partnership with OSTN will open up a range of opportunities for the student community.

‘The converged technology will not only give students access to a whole host of vibrant new resources but will also encourage collaboration across campus and indeed the whole education sector,’ said Marshal.

A study is underway to understand the requirements for IPTV on Janet.