The students of SLS Memorial Residential School, set up by President Droupadi Murmu in her native district Mayurbhanj, Odisha, in 2016, experienced the thrill of high-speed Internet under the 5G-telecom services, which was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday.

The school was among the four schools selected for the live demo of 5G usages.

Nearly 20 students of the school, which was built by Murmu at Pahadpur in the memory of her husband and two sons who died between 2009 and 2014 joined the ceremony virtually through the 5G networks.

At present the school has 80 students and it has classes from Class VI to Class X.

Science teacher Nigamananda Giri told The Telegraph: “Using a smart TV given by the Reliance, we were connected to the Prime Minister’s launching of 5G services at India Mobile Congress held at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. Our students remained prepared to answer any queries put by the Prime Minister. But perhaps due to the paucity of time, the Prime Minister did not find time to talk to our students.”

The Reliance Jio Officials were present during the opening ceremony and assisted the school authorities.

Giri said: “Earlier we had internet facilities. But the speed was slow. When we connected the network with 10 computers, it further slowed down. As 5G is the fifth-generation mobile network capable of transmitting a large set of data at very rapid speed, the students will be able to read various subjects, particularly science subjects.”

Giri said: “Today we took a class on the functioning of the heart. Earlier we used to draw the picture of the heart on the blackboard and try to ensure that the students got to know about everything about the functioning of the heart. Now with the 5G, the students were taught about the functioning of the heart on the smart screen from the teachers of KD Ambani Reliance Foundation School, Gujarat The Internet speed was so fast that the students loved the teaching. The students also enjoy the classes.”

Muna Pratihai, vice president of the school management committee said: “Now the 5 G is available around 100 metre radius of the school. After all the works are completed, almost all the villages in the area will be covered under the 5G services,”

Local Sarapanch Rukumani Murmu told The Telegraph, “We have a population of around 710. Almost all the villagers have a smart phone. We are happy that 5G Service is available in our area. Now sanction has been given to convert the road from single lane to double lane to connect the nearest town of Rairangpur which is only 20km away from here.”