Reading built a new public works facility in 2004. As construction neared completion, officials recognized the need for a reliable way to extend the city network to the new building, located approximately a half-mile from city hall.
An important factor in the city's search for a connectivity solution was the requirement for a highly secure system that would preserve the integrity of sensitive information. City officials contemplated using T-3 lines, but found the bandwidth to be inadequate and monthly leasing costs exorbitantly expensive. Fiber-optic cable was also considered, but installation would involve deep trenching under railroad tracks in an established urban setting. In addition, the fiber-optic connection required a long-term leasing commitment.
The city required a cost-effective alternative that would also support a disaster recovery plan to transport nightly backups of up to one terabyte of data to the new facility. The team worked with Integral Wireless Solutions, Inc., a Reading-based reseller, to deploy the LightPointe system.
"After confirming line-of-sight for the wireless connection between the two buildings, the decision to choose LightPointe was easy," explained Mayor Thomas McMahon. The new system "met all of our bandwidth, reliability and disaster recovery requirements, while also delivering a quick return on investment."
