On our recent summer course “Tech-Ready Teachers“, many teachers flagged a number of issues around reliable internet access. A participant kindly reached out and shared what their school did to resolve this issue.
One of the biggest challenges schools face when using technology with students is reliable WIFI and internet access. Many teachers report problems with devices dropping out, not connecting, or slow speeds.
One summer course participant faced similar issues in their school, but after some helpful conversations with the Broadband Desk, we found a solution that may help others too.
The Problem: Running Out of IP Addresses
Every device in a school needs an IP address to connect to the internet. This includes:
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Teachers’ mobile phones
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Staff laptops and iPads
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Student laptops/iPads on trolleys
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Printers
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CCTV cameras
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Keypad entry systems
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Even some phone lines
This teacher discovered that they had simply run out of available IP addresses. For example, a teacher’s laptop or phone might take an address that a student’s laptop needed, causing connection failures.
The Solution: A NAT Box
The answer was surprisingly simple: they installed a NAT box.
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Cost: around €300
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Benefit: provides up to 250 extra IP addresses
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Result: Since installing it in November 2024, they had almost no connectivity issues (apart from the occasional whole-school or external network outage).
What This Means for Schools
If your teachers or students are regularly struggling to connect to WIFI, especially when many devices are in use at the same time, you may be running into the same issue. A NAT box could be an affordable and effective solution to explore.
✅ Tip for School Leaders: If WIFI problems are being raised by staff, bring this information to your ICT coordinator or the Broadband Desk. A small investment could make a big difference to digital learning in your school.
A big thank you to this summer course participant for reaching out and sharing this useful information.
