Katja Telič and Gregor Steklačič, DID

The aim of the E&R optical connectivity project is to address pressing issues related to the establishment of optical fibre connections between education and research institutions and the ARNES network, which is crucial for their operation. The project is divided into 52 lots involving 637 institutions and is already well underway. The contractors for certain lots are already completing the optical connections running from the eligible institutions to the ARNES node. By 2015 some 700 education and research institutions in Slovenia are expected to have a high-performance optical connection with a minimum speed of 1Gb/s which will provide a long-term solution to the institutions’ low quality internet connections and facilitate the use of the latest information and communication services in the education processes.

Katja Telič has been engaged in the E&R Optical Connectivity project since its approval. The project is being implemented by the Information Society Directorate of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport. Before the project, she was responsible for coordinating the cooperation activities of the directorate within the ministry and in relation to the general public.

Gregor Steklačič began his career in youth organisations as a director of a private institute in Grosuplje. He was then employed for five years at Razvojni center Srca Slovenije as a project manager, where he worked on projects related to connecting ICT companies with the aim of developing services for the elderly, entrepreneurship and mobility. Since 1 October 2014, he has been employed at the Information Society Directorate of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, where he is involved in the E&R Optical Connectivity project.