Online education not only bolsters student performance in the classroom but also powers many possibilities in the future. Students in remote places can use satellite Internet to access online resources throughout their education as new generations of satellites offer high throughput, low latency connections in locations where terrestrial connectivity is insufficient.
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The democracy and the economy of a country depend upon the effectiveness of a nation's education system. Access to education increases economic opportunities, broadens social mobility chances, and contributes to the empowerment of young girls and women. Despite education being the essential tool for the development of a progressive society, over 121 million children of primary and secondary school age do not have access to it. There are numerous factors that prohibit children from accessing education but rural and remote communities have historically struggled with access to education due to their 'LOCATION'.
In rural and remote communities where terrestrial methods of education are not sufficient and realistic; Satellite communication technologies assist in bridging this access divide. Satellite internet-based eLearning not only provides access to resources and information that would otherwise be inaccessible, but it also provides a digital platform for students to engage with other learners and teachers which aligns with the agenda of New Education Policy 2020. The flexibility that satellite internet offers to students in rural and remote areas assures that they can compete in today's society.
Satellite Internet-based Learning Offers
1. Ubiquity
The establishment of purely terrestrial networks in remote places would be prohibitively expensive; however, satellites are able to provide worldwide coverage with minimal ground infrastructure, enabling broadband to reach remote locations. Broadband technologies hold the promise of addressing many difficulties and long-standing constraints that define the rural economy, notably those related to accessibility and distance. Satellites' wide area coverage makes them ideal providers for networks serving numerous isolated locations, such as schools in distant and rural regions.
2. Immediate and Quick Access
While many of the nation's children have access to super-fast cable and fiber internet but students residing in rural communities are deprived of it. Satellite Internet Learning is a potential solution since satellite coverage is easily accessible. Additionally, the installation and activation of a satellite broadband system just take a few hours.
3. Reliability and Cost-Effectiveness
Satellite technology is highly competitive when it comes to providing access to rural and isolated areas of a country. In contrast to terrestrial networks, satellites are not susceptible to natural or man-made disasters on the ground, making them crucial components during emergencies. Satellites offer services that won't be disrupted by inclement weather, catastrophes, or armed conflict and provide a predictable and consistent level of service globally, regardless of geographic location.
4. Quality
Satellite connectivity enables both students and educators to have a high-quality classroom experience. Regardless of geographical location, students and educators can build virtual classrooms owing to technologies like the web, videoconferencing, and voice-over-Internet protocol. With Internet connectivity, educators can locate resources, lesson ideas, and training to better meet the needs of their students. While students can utilize this advancement to bridge the accessibility gap caused by location.
India is progressing rapidly toward digital education, aided by increased digitalization acceptance by institutions and colleges, expanding internet penetration, and skyrocketing student demand. The government's commitment to building digital infrastructure in the country, and establishing digital universities especially providing internet connection in remote areas, has profoundly influenced digital education.
The government is striving to improve rural accessibility in order to provide quality education to rural and remote communities. The government is emphasizing preparing students for the workforce by assessing their competencies and assisting them in aligning with industry-based skills. To meet that end, the government is encouraging Indian universities and colleges to shift from traditional to digital methods.
The government is also concentrating on research and innovation to identify sectors that might help to support and improve India's digital education programs. The government in July 2021 announced that space technology (such as satellite communication) is being utilized for digital education in India. Currently, along with 19 states, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are leveraging satellite communications to deliver digital educational content under the Tele-education Programme. Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N) in India also utilizes satellite communication to broadcast 51 educational channels.
The Delhi Academy of Medical Sciences and Dr. Bhatia Medical Institute use satellites to reach rural and remote areas, allowing doctors to attend lectures from their native places. This not only saves the price and time of flying doctors to metropolitan regions for education, but it also allows them to continue practicing while receiving further training. These initiatives are projected to expand the potential of space-based applications and digital education.
Digitization in the education sector has enabled children in rural areas of the country to get a high-quality education through interactive digital media, overcoming the barrier of teacher scarcity. Furthermore, it is assisting teachers in rural locations to utilize technology in order to update their abilities and expedite the country's adoption of digital approaches to learning and teaching.
Online education not only bolsters student performance in the classroom but also powers many possibilities in the future. Students in remote places can use satellite Internet to access online resources throughout their education as new generations of satellites offer high throughput, low latency connections in locations where terrestrial connectivity is insufficient. Satellite connectivity can be a powerful tool for bridging the geographical barrier and providing a plethora of opportunities to students of rural and remote areas.
