AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Time Warner Telecom Inc. (Nasdaq: TWTC), the leader in providing services over its local optical, broadband networks, today announced a customized solution using Cisco's premier Internet routing technology that will help Austin Radiological Association (ARA) provide digital x-rays, mammograms, CT scans, MRI scans, and sonography to Austin, Texas, and surrounding areas.

Timer Warner Telecom will provide 11 OC-3c transport lines, 1 DS 3 line and multiple T1 lines over three-years. This agreement will connect 14 imaging centers, including 13 outpatient centers in eight surrounding hospitals back to the main Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS Imaging System.) The new network and PACS will increase the productivity of doctors by 15 to 20 percent. ARA will also save approximately $500,000 a year on courier services by implementing the new network.

Eleven sites around Austin will be equipped with OC-3c transport lines and Cisco 12000 Series Internet routers, Cisco 7206 VXR routers and Catalyst 4000 and 6500 switches to facilitate the transportation of medical images back to the PACS. T1 lines will connect two other sites and a DS3 line will connect a site in San Marcos. Because of the connection and partnership, doctors can now share information for consultations without transporting the documents by courier. Ultimately, the new system will serve more than 100,000 patients each year.

"By combining products from Time Warner Telecom and Cisco, we are able to serve our customers better," said John Relic, CEO ARA. "This is an exciting time for us at ARA. Through a joint solution like this one we are able to keep up with government regulations, save money, and grow at the same time."

"It's solutions like this that show Time Warner Telecom is a leader in resolving complex issues for our customers," said Jenny Rogers, Austin general manager Time Warner Telecom. "We see many bigger and brighter things on the horizon for this area of business and our work with Cisco is just the beginning."

"By building a New World network using Cisco's advanced routing technology, Time Warner Telecom can easily and more efficiently improve its customers' experience by delivering high-speed, reliable broadband services and content applications," said Roland Acra, vice president and general manager of the Public Carrier IP Group at Cisco Systems.

The process of bringing the imaging centers on line has begun. All 14 imaging centers will be up and running by the end of the year.