Underpinning the NPfIT is a national broadband network connecting all NHS locations in England called N3. It enables data to be transferred quickly and easily and supports the applications and services being provided at both national and local level.
BT's role as the N3 Service Provider (N3SP) is to act as integrator, and to offer the best value to the NHS through a selection of suppliers.
BT hit 18,000 connections two months ahead of schedue. And with the network now installed in England, BT's focus is on working with the NHS to introduce new services that capitalise on its state-of-the-art capabilities. These developments are already delivering significant cost savings and service improvements.
The introduction of six-layer Quality of Service technology now gives the network the ability to prioritise critical information over the network; including voice calls, clinical applications and bulk data.
BT, in collaboration with NHS Connecting for Health, has also now introduced N3 Voice Services. This enables the network to carry voice traffic, offering the potential to significantly reduce the cost of telephony services. Benefits include free calls across the N3 network to other N3-voice connected sites and reduced fixed-to-mobile charges. This signals a landmark second phase of the N3 journey for the NHS, where data and voice converge on the network.
BT is also rolling out the broadband network for Scotland NHS and has completed more than two thirds of the 3,000 connections it is scheduled to deliver.
To find out more visit the N3SP website.