New Mexico Expanding School-Centric Network

Public schools in New Mexico will have access to an expanded high-speed broadband services through a new partnership between the New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion and internet services provider Lumen Technologies.

The effort aims to expand the reach of New Mexico’s Statewide Education Network (SEN), which already connects about 50 schools and 26,000 students. The network enables teachers and students to share classes, resources, libraries, and access many educational websites.

Under the agreement announced last month, Lumen will be providing nearly 900 miles of high-speed fiber connectivity to K-12 public, charter, and tribal schools around the state so they can take advantage of SEN.

“This network will give students across New Mexico the technological tools to share information and programs, providing new possibilities to engage students and teachers and to improve the quality of learning,” said Drew Lovelace, acting director of the state’s Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE).

Making use of the network – which is available free of charge – is optional for New Mexico schools.

OBAE said that SEN carries the advantage of alleviating state school districts of internet administrative burdens, allowing them to more fully focus on classroom instruction.

SEN plans to connect to all public schools in the state by 2027 and will supervise the network’s daily operations and cybersecurity.

More than 200 public schools across the state are considering linking to the network, according to state officials. Officials also noted that SEN is uniquely positioned to help enable rural and tribal schools to engage with other schools and communities through the network.

“A very important role of technology in our state is the teaching, learning and preservation of our precious cultural heritage,” said Public Education Secretary Dr. Arsenio Romero. “These new tools and techniques will help schools maximize educational outcomes and help our students graduate career and college ready.”

“SEN will allow the delivery of a technology-rich curriculum that, in turn, will open the doors to a world of business and carrier opportunities,” said Ovidiu Viorica, New Mexico’s statewide education network broadband and technology manager.