TELECOM & TECH
Expansion, Innovation, and Evolution The ins and outs of Internet in Alaska By Tracy Barbour
T
oday, many organizations depend heavily on having access to secure and reliable data networks to support their operations. A data network—often referred to as a computer network or simply a network—is a telecommunications network that allows computers to exchange data. Telecom providers give businesses and consumers access to the exterior and interior equipment they need to transfer data between various points. For example, Advanced Physical Therapy relies on GCI for its Internet and intra-office
8 | December 2018
connection, according to Jesse Berg, the practice’s systems administrator. GCI handles the network connection between the company’s Anchorage location and four other sites in Wasilla, Soldotna, Seward, and Fairbanks. Advanced Physical Therapy has 150 to 170 devices connected to its network, ranging from laptops and desktops to switches and routers. Almost everything Advanced Physical Therapy does depends on the security and reliability of its data network. For instance, the company’s electronic medical records are hosted in Anchorage, including critical
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