Company insight
began the process of designating LTE spectrum for industry, companies like Nokia have been pioneering the small cell technology that is required for private industrial networks.
As a result, an airport can now deploy a purpose-built private wireless network with 4.9G capabilities, as well as putting in place a clear road map for the transition to 5G when it becomes the new standard. There are myriad potential benefits, not least in the area of airport safety. “A private LTE/5G wireless network makes it simpler to embrace process digitalisation, and move away from paper and pencil,” says Choudhary. “In addition, private wireless allows airports to increase their operational and situational awareness, so they can efficiently deal with any type of incident. When an incident occurs at an airport, it is of utmost importance to resolve it as quickly as possible and minimise the impact on turnarounds.” “Today, the airport operations centre (APOC) relies almost solely on verbal push-to-talk communications to resolve incidents,” he adds. “At airside, the APOC will not have visuals if the incident occurs outside the CCTV perimeter. Equipping marshaller cars or first responder vehicles with remotely controlled pan-tilt-zoom cameras allows the APOC to add visuals to the decision-making process.” Passengers will not be able to connect to these private LTE/5G networks because they are exclusively designated for airport operations. Furthermore, they have been scaled down to fit the needs of airports, removing the complexity associated with large-scale cellular technology. As well as improving efficiency and awareness, moving operational services on to these private wireless networks frees up existing shared Wi-Fi network and public mobile network capacity. This can be used by passengers, who will experience a better and much faster wireless experience. Furthermore, airports will be able to monetise this opportunity by offering wireless services to their stakeholders, possibly through a multi-tier subscription model. Unlike public wireless networks, these networks are purpose-built for the enterprise and can guarantee a level of service wherever it is needed in a secure
Future Airport /
www.futureairport.com
The aviation industry is moving towards an era of Airport 4.0, where airport operations are optimised.
way. Another key characteristic is that services and data are kept firmly within the airport campus. The networks are based on 3GPP 4G or 5G technology and security is an inherent part of these standardised systems. 3GPP, for instance, has defined several security measures including a subscriber database that defines who can access the service, which is also linked to a SIM card in the user’s device. It also includes the capability for an encrypted radio link and tunnelled user traffic.
“These private networks provide guaranteed coverage and capacity, both terminal and airside, for greater situational and operational awareness, and ensure reliable connectivity to enable faster, more efficient aircraft turnaround processes,” says Choudhary. “They also enable airports to offer the optimum quality of service for different stakeholder needs and unify communications between all stakeholders for better decision-making.”
Investment during the pandemic There is no escaping the fact that the past year has been hard on the aviation industry. Covid-19 has kept planes grounded and travellers in their homes. Some might question, therefore, the industry’s ability – and willingness – to invest in a new airport communications backbone. Choudhary, however, sees no lack of interest. Nokia has extensive experience serving the air transport industry and as part of its commitment to the market it has worked to understand
both the long-term connectivity needs of the industry, and the pressures it faces in the short term. “We did witness airports continuing to invest in new technologies,” he says. “They have implemented new technologies, such as private wireless and passive optical LAN during 2020. With passenger numbers falling away in 2020, some airports took this as an opportunity to implement new technologies that will help them build the foundation of Airport 4.0 with minimal impact to passengers.” US airports, in particular, have experienced a severe economic impact due to Covid-19, but they have received around $10bn in government support and this funding is an incentive to invest in digital transformation. “There has never been a better time for airports to invest in technology designed to increase efficiency, lower costs and improve service levels,” adds Choudhary. “The aviation recovery may take some time, but when it happens the airport experience is likely to look and feel very different. Competition will be sharper, the airport experience will be a crucial differentiator for an increasingly sensitive and selective public, and airports will turn to technology to help address these competitive goals.”
Digitalisation will change the face of the experience of air travel and now is the time for airports to invest for success in the post-pandemic world. ●
www.nokia.com 31
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