Applications of two-way satellite broadband for lifelong learning

The Rural Wings project tested the use of DVB-RCS-based satellite broadband integrated with local wireless networks, for the delivery of innovative e-learning services to remote rural communities in Europe. A number of scenarios of use were developed and implemented in more than 100 pilot sites in 12 countries across Europe and beyond, corresponding to a wide range of learning approaches and diverse learning circumstances in the various rural settings. In the light of the experiences and data gathered during the trials in the pilot sites, several aspects of the appropriateness and impact of the proposed intervention were evaluated. This paper focuses on and summarises some of the most interesting findings relating to the degree to which the deployed satellite broadband technology managed to deliver the planned e-learning activities.