The ACT government has chosen Datacom Systems (AU) to deliver the laptops and expects all students to have their own device by the 2019 school year.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr and Education Minister Yvette Berry committed to giving every secondary public school student a personal device ahead of the 2016 election. More than $17 million was set aside in the 2017-18 budget to fund the policy.

"In many ways these are the textbooks of today and the ACT is the first Australian state or territory to provide them universally in public schools," Mr Barr and Ms Berry said in a joint statement.

"This initiative will ensure every secondary student in Canberra public schools has the same access to a device to enhance their learning through technology.

"Irrespective of family circumstances, every student will have an equal opportunity to access technology so they can learn wherever they are and use technology whenever they need it."

Google technology is already used in many Canberra classrooms.

"Students are already equipped with access to a specialised Google educational platform where they access a Google classroom and Google apps," Mr Barr and Ms Berry said.

"Chromebooks integrate seamlessly with these apps and will ensure all students are using a safe, secure and easily managed platform."

In future, Chromebooks will be provided to all new students at the start of every school year to ensure secondary students have up-to-date devices, Mr Barr and Ms Berry said.

The most recent school census showed there were 17,251 students enrolled in public high schools and colleges.