Loma Linda University Health (LLUH) in Loma Linda, California, which operates some of the largest clinical programs in the U.S. and is also an international leader in infant heart transplantation improved its indoor connectivity through the deployment of CommScope technology.
The medical entity was struggling with the challenge of providing reliable indoor wireless coverage throughout its campus. LLUH highlighted that indoor connectivity is no longer an issue following the deployment of CommScope’s ION-E indoor wireless platform.
LLUH spent several years reviewing distributed antenna solutions (DAS) options from carriers and commercial companies. In late 2015, the hospital reviewed CommScope’s ION-E indoor wireless platform.
Introduced by CommScope in February 2014, ION-E is a unified, flexible digital wireless infrastructure platform noted for its ease of installation and management. The system is technology- and operator-agnostic and capable of supporting multiple service providers on a common infrastructure.
Unlike other DAS systems, ION-E runs on the standard Category 6A copper and fiber-optic cable already in place in many areas of the hospital, CommScope said.
“Running the ION-E on Category 6A gives the hospital the opportunity to support things like Wi-Fi, wireless security cameras and low-voltage lighting off the same cabling infrastructure,” said Gary Harrison, CommScope’s lead for the LLUH project team.
Bringing the system on line and managing it is simple as well, CommScope said. A single web-based interface enables easy testing and commissioning. As access points are added, the system automatically detects and configures new hardware. During operation, ION-E senses the traffic demand at each access point and adjusts signal transport levels to optimize output power, the company added.
ION-E also supports the hospital’s public safety and paging networks. The system can incorporate a wide variety of radio types, making the DAS platform available for use by different departments such as security and engineering.
“It’s completely changed our perception of DAS,” said Les Morton, Director of Communication Network Services (CNS) at LLUH.
Morton also sees the ION-E as a great recruitment tool. “By improving coverage and accessibility across the campus, we’re able to attract and maintain the high caliber of talent that we’re known for,” he added.
CommsScope also highlighted that the ION-E platform gives patients and visitors the high-speed, full-signal service they expect, while providing the secure and reliable communications platform the staff need to continue improving patient care.