ProInfoNet

Author: Samantha Maloney

CASE STUDY: Building the NETC Network

Insights > Case Study Building the NETC Network When a regional healthcare nonprofit formed a coalition to close the broadband gap for rural hospitals across New England, they selected ProInfoNet—through a competitive RFP process—to build a resilient network to connect them. Learn More ABOUT THE CUSTOMER The New England Telehealth Consortium (NETC) is a regional healthcare consortium in northern New England dedicated to improving access to affordable and reliable telecommunications services for rural healthcare providers and communities. REGION New England COMPANY SIZE Small Non-Profit INDUSTRY Healthcare KEY SERVICES Healthcare Connectivity Network Infrastructure KEY TEAM MEMBERS Jim Rogers Trevor Gordon Chris Gelo Ron Barber In a nutshell 1 The Challenge In 2007, when NETC was founded, there was not adequate broadband internet infrastructure built out for key anchor institutions like rural hospitals across the U.S. 2 The Solution Led by Jim Rogers, NETC began as a coalition of 500 healthcare sites that partnered with ProInfoNet to create a high-speed, redundant network designed specifically for healthcare. 3 The Outcome Today, NETC connects over 1,400 healthcare sites via more than 2,500 circuits, delivering 2 Tbps of bandwidth. With 100% core uptime, 99.999% internet uptime, and 99.983% circuit uptime, NETC is now the largest purpose-built healthcare broadband network in the country. Challenges Solutions Widespread Gaps in Rural Broadband Infrastructure At the time of NETC’s founding, many rural hospitals and clinics across the U.S. lacked access to reliable broadband. These anchor institutions needed a dependable way to connect to the systems and tools that were becoming standard in urban settings. No Network Built for Healthcare While commercial broadband was available, none of the options were designed for the demands of healthcare. NETC needed a secure, unified network that could support real-time patient data exchange, system-wide telehealth, and HIPAA compliance. Limited Capacity to Build & Operate With the backing of a 500-site coalition, NETC had a strong vision, but building and managing a healthcare-grade network across six states required more resources than their internal team could support. They needed an experienced partner to help with the design, deployment, and long-term operations of their network. Solutions Results A Network Purpose-Built for healthcare Through a competitive RFP process, NETC partnered with ProInfoNet to design a healthcare-focused network from the ground up. ProInfoNet interviewed more than 120 healthcare CIOs to understand exactly what they needed and ensured the final architecture supported the performance, compliance, and reliability demands of healthcare providers. Redundant & High-Speed By Design ProInfoNet engineered a dual-core infrastructure supported by three diverse ISPs to guarantee seamless failover. Each site connects to both core routers, enabling automatic switching in the event of a disruption, no manual intervention required. Managed and Monitored Around the Clock To ease the operational burden on NETC’s team, ProInfoNet implemented a dedicated 24/7 Network Operations Center (NOC) and provided real-time circuit monitoring software, giving members full visibility into performance while taking day-to-day management off their plate. Results Work With Us A National Footprint of 1,400 Healthcare Sites What began as a 500-site regional effort has grown into a nationwide network connecting more than 1,400 healthcare facilities. NETC now serves as a critical bridge between rural providers and the broadband infrastructure they need to deliver care. Uninterrupted Connectivity for Critical Services NETC sites use the network for everything from secure data exchange to remote diagnostics and telehealth visits. The redundant design keeps facilities online through hardware disruptions or ISP outages. With 100% core uptime and 99.999% internet uptime, NETC’s network delivers the consistent, reliable connectivity healthcare organizations need to provide uninterrupted care. The Largest Healthcare Broadband Network in the U.S. Today, NETC is believed to be the largest purpose-built healthcare broadband network in the country. As more sites continue to join the network, NETC and ProInfoNet remain tightly aligned—monitoring network performance, resolving issues in real time, and preparing for the next phase of growth with SD-WAN integration through the NETC Next-Gen initiative. Interested in implementing a similar network solution? Talk to Us

PRESS RELEASE: ProInfoNet’s Jeff Rogers Named a Tech Top 50 Honoree by Mass Technology Leadership Council

VP of Operations and Finance recognized as a “Rising Star” for leadership and contributions to technology innovation. Bangor, Maine (March 20, 2025) – Jeff Rogers, VP of Operations and Finance at ProInfoNet, has been named an honoree in the Mass Technology Leadership Council (MTLC)’s Tech Top 50 awards under the category of “Rising Star of the Year”. He was one of four honorees recognized alongside the category winner, Christina Jayson. The award highlights emerging leaders who are making a significant impact early in their careers through strong operational leadership and measurable bottom-line results. The Mass Technology Leadership Council (MTLC) is the largest tech association in the region, dedicated to convening leaders with diverse perspectives to solve pressing global challenges and boost economic growth in Massachusetts. Each year, the Tech Top 50 honors fifty leaders, companies, and technologies making a significant impact within the tech sector. Jeff Rogers was selected as a “Rising Star” honoree for his leadership and strategic vision at ProInfoNet. Since joining in 2021, he has earned two promotions, moving from Director of Strategic Initiatives to VP of Sales and Marketing and more recently to VP of Operations and Finance. In these roles, Rogers has spearheaded efforts to improve business efficiency, launched two software platforms that streamlined subsidy access for rural healthcare providers, and played a key role in driving significant growth for the company—further positioning ProInfoNet as a trusted partner for businesses navigating an increasingly complex technology landscape. “We are incredibly proud of Jeff for this well-deserved recognition,” said Jim Rogers, President and CEO of ProInfoNet. “His leadership, strategic vision, and dedication have been instrumental in driving our company’s growth, and we are thrilled to see his impact acknowledged by MTLC.” About ProInfoNet ProInfoNet is a Maine-based IT consulting firm that helps businesses navigate evolving technology challenges. Leveraging 30 years of consulting experience, ProInfoNet has served over 300 companies in saving more than $200 million on their network infrastructure, healthcare connectivity, and municipal broadband projects. Whether you need assistance optimizing IT infrastructure, improving operational efficiency, or preparing for future growth, our team is committed to delivering strategic solutions that make an impact. For more information, visit https://pinonline.com.