Mosslink Wireless Solution for Nanning Sixth People’s Hospital
At a Glance
| Client | Nanning No. 6 People’s Hospital |
|---|---|
| Industry | Healthcare |
| Location | Nanning, China |
| The Challenge | To deploy a highly reliable, secure, and high-performance wireless network to support the hospital’s transition to a fully digital, “paperless” clinical environment. |
| The Solution | A full-stack Mosslink solution including redundant core gateways, aggregation switches, PoE+ access switches, and a mix of high-density ceiling and in-wall access points, all managed via a centralized platform. |
| The Impact | ▸ 100% reliable Wi-Fi coverage across the 15,000 m² facility.▸ Seamless roaming for medical staff using mobile devices, ensuring zero connection drops.▸ Secure network segregation for clinical data and public guest access.▸ Simplified network management, reducing the burden on the hospital’s IT department. |
Project Overview
Nanning Sixth People’s Hospital is located in the Xixiangtang District of Nanning, Guangxi, China. Established in 1979, it is a comprehensive Grade II Class A hospital providing medical care, prevention, health care, and research. The hospital covers an area of 12 acres, with a building area of approximately 15,000 square meters.
The hospital has 324 staff members, 273 medical technicians, 16 senior professionals, and 77 mid-level professionals. It is equipped with advanced medical equipment, including a 16-slice spiral CT scanner, digital gastrointestinal machine, digital electronic colposcope, electronic gastroscope, DR (Digital Radiography), and fully automated biochemical analyzers.
In 2015, the hospital launched its WeChat-based navigation services. Recently, to improve information technology and better serve patients, the hospital sought a reliable Wi-Fi solution and chose Mosslink for full wireless coverage.
Project Requirements
Due to the unique nature of a hospital environment, the WLAN system must meet specific requirements:
Network Isolation: For areas with low concurrent users, such as hospital wards, Wi-Fi is primarily for staff use. Guest networks must be isolated from the hospital’s internal network and have bandwidth restrictions.
High Data Security: Patient data must be protected from theft.
High Network Security: Given the high mobility of staff, the wireless network must be highly secure, including the physical devices, and comply with fire safety regulations.
Stable Network Bandwidth: PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) requires high network bandwidth stability and low latency.
High Reliability: The hospital’s wired network and power supply systems are double-backed; the wireless network must also have redundancy.
Ease of Maintenance: The wireless network should not become a burden for the hospital’s IT department.
Solution
Due to the complexity of the hospital’s architecture and the retrofit of existing infrastructure, Mosslink designed the following wireless solution:
- Core Network
Two Mosslink Gigabit Smart Gateways were deployed in the core network. One serves as the main device, while the other acts as a backup. These gateways provide gigabit-level processing power, ensuring high performance to meet the hospital’s needs. The system supports IPv4/IPv6, VPN, and other network features, with various high-density ports such as Gigabit Ethernet and Gigabit Fiber. The solution also ensures link redundancy via dual uplinks, eliminating complex STP protocol configurations. The core security gateway features main control redundancy, N+1 power supply, and uninterrupted reboot technology to ensure 99.999% telecom-grade reliability. - Aggregation Layer
Aggregation switches connect the access layer to the core. For each building, an aggregation switch is deployed to connect high-speed wireless APs to the core switch using 10G fiber optics. This ensures seamless network performance and stable access. - Access Layer
The access layer is responsible for connecting and powering wireless APs. In areas like hallways and indoor rooms, wireless APs are installed on the ceiling. PoE (Power over Ethernet) technology is used for power supply since these areas cannot directly access power through high-voltage electrical lines. PoE switches are selected to ensure Ethernet-powered APs for indoor coverage. The solution uses Wave 2 Gigabit Dual-Band APs for high-traffic areas like the hospital lobby, registration, and outpatient department. In quieter areas like inpatient rooms and offices, panel APs are installed. - Wi-Fi Coverage and Performance
The hospital requires seamless coverage throughout all areas, ensuring users can roam without disruption as they move between APs. Mosslink’s Wave 2 technology provides high-speed access, with dual-band support and up to 1200 Mbps throughput. The system ensures seamless roaming and prevents network interruptions while transitioning between APs. - Guest Network and Marketing
To accommodate visitors, WeChat authentication is implemented, where users can access Wi-Fi by following the hospital’s official WeChat account. This method also helps direct more visitors to the hospital’s online services, enhancing the hospital’s digital presence.
Solution Highlights
- Multiple Encryption/Security Settings:
The system supports various encryption and security settings, such as WEP, WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK, WPA, MAC address authentication, ensuring a secure wireless network for both staff and guests. - VLAN Network Segmentation:
The internal network for hospital staff is separated from the guest and patient network using VLAN. Bandwidth control via the gateway ensures that staff receive priority data flow, ensuring that internal hospital systems operate efficiently. - Seamless Roaming:
Wi-Fi coverage is designed to eliminate dead spots across the entire hospital. The seamless roaming feature ensures that as users move throughout the building, the network connection remains uninterrupted, enhancing the user experience. - User Authentication for Marketing:
Guests must authenticate through WeChat to access Wi-Fi, driving them to the hospital’s WeChat-based services and facilitating the promotion of hospital services and updates. This also serves as a channel to support the hospital’s digital transformation. - Scalable and Remote Management:
The wireless system offers excellent scalability and can be easily managed through the cloud. The system supports remote control, allowing the hospital’s IT team to monitor and manage the network from anywhere, facilitating future expansions and maintenance.
Project Summary
The wireless medical system plays a crucial role in advancing the hospital’s digital transformation. It improves the efficiency of medical staff, enhances patient satisfaction, and reduces the risk of medical errors. Mosslink’s solution enables the Nanning Sixth People’s Hospital to provide better services to both medical staff and patients, contributing to a more efficient healthcare system while enhancing patient convenience and satisfaction.
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