[CAnet - news] Hospitals turn to dark fiber to speed up transmissions

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http://www.fairfieldcbj.com/current_issue/080805frop06.html

See also

http://lw.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ARTCL&SubSection=
Display&PUBLICATION_ID=13&ARTICLE_ID=233838&pc=ENL

[Some excerpts from both articles - BSA]

ChimeNet, an affiliate company of the Connecticut Hospital Association, and
FiberTech Networks, a builder and operator of metropolitan-area fiber-optic
networks within mid-size U.S. cities, have teamed to connect multiple
locations with a managed fiber-optic based platform for Bristol Hospital in
Connecticut.

"This fiber solution from ChimeNet and Fibertech provides us a dedicated
infrastructure with the highest levels of security and reliability for our
data transactions," adds Rackliffe. "It also offers us a foundation for our
data backup and medical imaging systems."

According to a press release, in delivering the service, ChimeNet will lease
dark fiber, or fiber-optics unlit by communications electronics, from
portions of Fibertech's existing network in Bristol. Where necessary,
Fibertech will build out fiber-optic extensions directly into Bristol
Hospital buildings to create a seamless, scaleable infrastructure. ChimeNet
will then "light" the network with its own equipment to deploy a high-speed
optical network that will not only meet Bristol's current infrastructure and
data transport needs, but will also allow for bandwidth growth and future
application development.

"Patient confidentiality, large data record transfers, and regulatory forces
have reshaped the role of information technology within the health care
industry," comments Michael Hurley, vice president of sales and marketing
for Fibertech. "To better move and manage its data requirements, a
fiber-optic network will provide Bristol Hospital with the most
cost-effective, scaleable infrastructure to meet its growing needs."


Todd Hanson, research director with Gartner Inc., said there has been a
tremendous up-tick in institutions such as hospitals installing "dark fiber
networks" or connections linking main hubs to off-site locations.

"Fiber-optic networks provide a really fast and easy way to transmit
information without capacity limitations found in traditional networks,"
Hanson said.

Medical facilities have identified the need to shorten the time to transmit
large data files and detailed images from one facility to another. At 20
times faster than traditional networks, fiber-optic networks allow
information to be transmitted "at the speed of light," Hanson said.

Nassir Nizami, senior network engineer/security officer for Greenwich
hospital, said that traditional connections tend to require a lot of
oversight and hopes that the fiber networks will alleviate down times
associated with transmitting information.

Nizami said that the subscription-based service which is being offered by
New York City-based Fibertech Networks L.L.C. is comparable to the monthly
costs associated with its current technology.

"The technology has become less costly as it is easier to manufacture, more
market elements have entered the field and because more people have adapted
to it," Hanson said.


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