Skip to content Skip to footer

Case Study: Combining voice, video and data for Unified Communication

Melbourne Airport, also known as Tullamarine Airport, is the second busiest airport in Australia. It was opened in 1970 to replace the nearby Essendon Airport. Melbourne Airport is the sole international airport of the four airports serving the Melbourne metropolitan area. The airport is like a city unto itself and has its own postcode.

Melbourne Airport, at the official opening of its expanded International Terminal, took a major step forward in modernizing and digitizing its operations with Cisco business video and mobility technology. The airport aims to make travelling as seamless and efficient as possible for airlines and their passengers. It also wants to support future growth in passenger capacity and create new revenue streams for airport tenants.

Its passenger growth has surpassed 5 million international passengers in a 12-month period. The airport envisions a state-of-the-art airport that will ensure the long-term growth of airlines services in Melbourne. Innovative business solutions from Cisco support the airport’s plans to streamline operations and transform the experience of travellers.

More about the different Cisco solutions

The airport has made use of Cisco Digital Media Signage on more than 400 flight information displays (FIDs). This enables the airport to share up-to-date flight and gate information, news, and emergency messaging in arrival and departure areas, as well as in the new international terminal, and in future, in the entire airport.

To support Melbourne Airport’s commitment to “green” practices, Cisco Digital Media Manager enables information technology staff to create customized policies that will automatically power down FIDs when not in use. With the Cisco digital media solution, the airport will consume 80 percent less power than its previous PC-based solution.

A high-performance Cisco Unified Wireless Network was designed, with technology that provides outdoor wireless access points at each of the gates in the new international terminal. This enables airline pilots to transfer critical flight information to flight control with industry-leading security as the airplane approaches the gate. Completing this information transfer before the airplane even arrives at the gate speeds the turn-around of flights.

Using a Cisco Unified Communications solution, airline flight personnel can log in to any of the more than 800 Cisco Unified IP Phones located at each gate and around the airport to access their personalised profile. The latter includes one-touch numbers, an employee directory, weather, news, and airport information, using which they can remain connected throughout the airport.

The Cisco Digital Media Manager can enable airline gate personnel to “push” instructions alerting passengers of boarding times and the check-in process over digital media signage in the gate area. This significantly enhances the management of passenger traffic and streamlines the boarding process for on-time departures.

Using the highly secure, reliable, and scalable Cisco network, Melbourne Airport can provide its more than 150 commercial tenants and airline partners with a rich set of data, voice and video services. For example, retail tenants can purchase wireless connectivity for kiosk registers, advertising space on the airport’s digital media signage, and IP phone service. These services provide new revenue streams for the airport and help it rapidly achieve a return on its technology investment.

The IP-based Cisco Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) network includes Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Virtual Switching System 1400 for innovative network system virtualization and the Cisco Catalyst 4500 and 3560 Series Switches to connect the areas for outbound international passenger security, customs processing zones, international baggage, aircraft parking bays and airport terminals.

The unified communications solution includes more than 800 desktop Cisco Unified IP Phones and Cisco Unified Communications Manager, Cisco’s call-processing solution. The Cisco Unified Wireless network is also used by airport ground staff for maintenance of aircraft and facilities.

So, now you know more about how one of the world’s largest airports has integrated all of its systems for a high-efficiency Unified Communications solution that makes international travel easy and painless. Here’s to a comfortable and hassle-free travel experience!

 

 

(Content courtesy: www.cisco.com and image courtesy: www.crn.com.au)

Leave a comment