> 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.
Yes! Yes!
> This would provide "free" voice as well as data connection within the
> locality.
Yes, via ATM networking. No problem.
Don't know about the 'free' though. Kit exists to connect existing PABX exchanges
to a fibre optic ATM network, which can be used to transfer data at the same time.
This kit doesn't come from Dixons though (we're talking a few thousand UKP)
See http://www.k-net.co.uk for information on ATM,
and the ADC Kentrox page on http://www.kentrox/com for the kit to connect your
telephone traffic via fibre optics (probably only cost effective if you run
a medium sized hospital)
At leat one hospital in the States has set itself up a
telephone company subsidiary. It can then run data and telephone lines between its
sites, and charge itself for the calls, which is much cheaper than using a
telephone company.
Lots of telecomms companies now exist in the UK after deregulation
(BT, Mercury, Energis, cable...) Does anyone know if there is anything to
stop your local friendly Trust setting itself up as a telecomms company?
John Hearns
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