Ian Trimble wrote:
> From: Ian Trimble <[log in to unmask]>
> On Wed 11 Dec, Mike Wells wrote:
>
> > SUPERJanet operates at 4*34 Mbps between about 20 sites all over the
> > UK; it then extends onto about a further 200 sites at speeds
> > ususally in the 8 Mbps range. It is free at the point of use, and
> > has a total annual running cost in the order of stlg20M. It is
> > reliable, and a lot (like roughly 500,000) people use it every day.
> > The annual budget for the sector it serves (Education & Research) is
> > about stlg10,000M
> >
> > The annual budget for the NHS is in the order of stlg40,000M.
>
> The problem is that the NHS probably runs from closer to 22,000 sites
> than 220.
>
> That said, it may yet be cost effective to cable practices within
> urban localities, and link them to their local network, rather than to
> NHSnet.
>
> This would provide "free" voice as well as data connection within the
> locality.
>
> And the potential to migrate to "distributed systems" i.e. SGML based
> records, in due course, if necessary.
>
> And better security, perhaps?
>
>
Ian is quite right to point out the large number of sites at which
the NHS operates; the major cost in many networks is the cost of the
'local loop' which links from the nearest concentrator/switching
centre to the individual sites needing to be connected.
I would not rely on a private (ie restricted access) network to do
much about security. Any large network is very liable to be
get-at-able by outsiders, and in any case most of the real risks are
from insiders.
Mike Wells
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Professor Mike Wells
Department of Physics, The University of Leeds
Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
Phone: 0113-233-3879 E-Mail [log in to unmask]
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