Schoolchildren across Brazil will gain new access to computers, under Userful and ThinNetworks’ plan for the “world’s largest desktop virtualisation deployment.” The initiative will provide 356,800 green and virtualised desktops to schools in all of Brazil’s 5,560 municipalities.

By using PC sharing hardware and software, the deployment will provide students with PCs at a record-low cost of less than $50 (US) per seat, the companies say.

“This deployment alone saves more than 170,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually, the same as taking 28,000 cars off the road, or planting 41,000 acres of trees,” said Sean Rousseau, marketing manager at Userful.

Userful will supply its Multiplier software for high-performance desktop virtualisation, which can turn one computer into up to 10 independent workstations, while ThinNetworks will provide the necessary hardware. The PCs and services are being provided by Positivo, Daruma and Itaultec.

The first phase of the deployment has already been completed: 18,750 workstations in rural schools.

“This project will bring access to information technology to almost every young student in Brazil,” said Luiz Ferreira, president of ThinNetworks. “But this project will mean much more: it is the beginning of a cycle of children and adults socially integrated.”

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