How Fiber Optic Cabling Systems Can Expand Colocation Densities

In a new white paper, Siemon explains how Wellstar Health Systems used advanced data center fiber optic cabling solutions to maximize densities within their leased colocation space.

Wellstar Health systems operates 10 hospitals, 9 emergency departments including Level I, II and III trauma centers, and more than 350 medical offices in Atlanta and western regions of the state of Georgia. A new white paper from Siemon outlines how the organization was able to maximize densities in their existing colocation footprint through the use of a flexible, high-density fiber optic cabling system.

According to the paper, Wellstar’s workloads are handled at two different Quality Technology Services (QTS) colocation data centers. Andre DaBreo, a Wellstar network engineer, says this is done for security and regulatory compliance reasons. In the paper he’s cited as saying “while we have main distribution facilities in each hospital and hundreds of telecom rooms across our locations, we have moved all of our data center operations out of our premises and into colocations, which ends up being much better for regulations.”

Wellstar has been able to expand within their leased space using advanced data center solutions from Siemon that facilitate the management of high-density connectivity, ease installation, and cost-effectively support migration to higher-speed applications. – Siemon, “Wellstar Health Systems Delivers Successful Expansion with Siemon Advanced Data Center Solutions“

The author notes that when Wellstar first migrated their workloads to QTS from on-premises data centers that could no longer handle the workload, they thought they had plenty of space for growth. The paper says they signed a 7-10 year lease and according to DaBreo, they “weren’t anywhere close to maximizing density, but now servers are constantly being brought in for new medical applications. At the same time, we have to keep patient records for many years to comply with regulations.”

This increased workload might have required adding space to their existing leases, though that would have come at a premium. According to the paper, due to “inflation and hyperscalers and enterprise businesses now buying up colocation space, the cost [of that space] has increased.”

The paper goes on to outline how Wellstar and Siemon worked to increase densities within the existing colocation space over time by implementing  flexible, high-density fiber optic cabling systems. The solutions have increased connectivity and aids in the migration to higher speed applications that meet the large healthcare provider’s changing needs, in a way that doesn’t require additional rack space.

Download the full report to learn more about high-density fiber optic cabling systems.