PQ Africa`s networking division, PQ Networks, are implementing state-of-the-art videoconferencing equipment across the Medical University of Southern Africa`s (MEDUNSA) campus. The university will utilise the equipment to improve its internal communications and ultimately implement remote diagnostic centres across South Africa, thus assisting disadvantaged communities. The R5 million rand `Distance Education` project was funded by Thintana Communications, a consortium made up of Telkom`s foreign strategic equity partners, SBC International and Telekom Malaysia.
After 2 years of collaboration with MEDUNSA on what is the university`s largest privately funded donation in recent years, Thintana`s objectives to make a significant impact on bringing future generations into a knowledge-based society have come to fruition.
MEDUNSA, an existing network customer of PQ Networks, selected videoconferencing as the communications medium to effectively implement its distance education and tele-medicine project. Registrar of MEDUNSA, Carl Berndt, comments: "We saw videoconferencing as the most far-reaching and socially responsible technology solution for a medical campus. With it, we hope to positively impact on rural clinics across South Africa. Although the facilities are currently being used for educational purposes within the campus, we ultimately plan to conduct remote health services across South Africa."
MEDUNSA realised it made business sense to enhance its network, based on a Cisco backbone, to include both point to point and multi-point, high-speed videoconferencing. "The videoconferencing application is fairly unique in that it utilises IP based technology, running on the campus intranet, as opposed to the traditional ISDN technology," says Marius Coetzee, videoconferencing manager at PQ Networks. Video streaming will also be used to enhance the quality of distance education material. "The videoconferencing equipment is supplied by VTEL communications, and is solely distributed in South Africa by PQ Networks," continues Coetzee.
Berndt adds: "MEDUNSA currently has its main Campus in Ga-Rankuwa and a satellite campus based in Pietersburg, utilising two VTEL boardroom videoconferencing facilities. The campus itself has 16 smaller VTEL desktop facilities, six of which have been allocated to enhance senior management communication. Extranet connectivity between the main campus and the local hospital, Ga-Rankuwa, supports full integration of a VTEL roll-about health care facility. As the project progresses we hope to increase the number of remote sites throughout the country, with the intention of the project being completely operational by November 2000."
Berndt goes on to say: "One of the biggest advantages of the videoconferencing implementation being based on IP connectivity, is the level of integration between the interactive conferencing and video streaming technologies. Doctors and students can access previous operations and procedures captured to servers, in essence utilising a virtual medical video-library. This grants the medical fraternity access to crucial information, providing them with a more efficient method of sharing medical knowledge. "
"PQ Networks hopes that social upliftment projects of this nature will be mirrored by other multinationals across the country, assisting in its overall improvement," concludes Coetzee.
Share
PQ Africa
PQ Africa is SA`s leading provider of competitive, innovative and flexible business solutions based on Information and Communication Technology ("ICT"). PQ Africa`s networking division, PQ Networks has become the foremost network systems integrator and solutions provider in South Africa. PQN has established an enviable track record in providing world leading networking solutions encompassing both the wide and local area environs. This incorporates all aspects in the communication technology arena, from Telecommunications infrastructure and Virtual Private Networks to Internet technology and all the related services.
Through direct representation of the world`s top network product manufacturers PQN provides through effective sales and pre-sales qualification processes, the most appropriate technology and design to meet the customer`s business requirements. PQN is actively supplying competitive and innovative solutions to diverse industries such as finance, retail, insurance, telecommunications, manufacture, travel, utilities and government services.
With a support organisation employing spanning some 33 locations throughout Southern Africa, PQN have the capability to service and maintain the computer networks of companies in all market segments supporting differing geographical and service level requirements. This extensive support organisation and the sophisticated Customer Care Centre enable the outsourcing of network services, such as network management, network operations and maintenance, and bandwidth management.