Nortel to provide new communications system at Mumbai airport

12 September 2007

Mumbai International Airport Private Limited (MIAL), the company that runs Mumbai''s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA), has chosen Nortel to build one of the most extensive and comprehensive IP communications networks ever deployed at Indian airports.

Mumbai airport plans to consolidate the majority of its data, telephony and video systems onto a converged wired and wireless IP-based network. This will be powered by Nortel''s innovative Metro Ethernet-based provider backbone bridging (PBB) and provider backbone transport (PBT) technologies.

As a long-term technology partner to MIAL, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) will provide systems integration for the converged triple-play communications upgrade project. Passengers, airline staff, retailers, security and airport operations employees will benefit from a variety of airport-wide WiFi and VoIP services.

The new wired and wireless infrastructure will provide network coverage throughout the airport terminal buildings and outside maintenance areas. Based on Nortel''s 10G DWDM fiber-optic backbone, the system will cost-effectively leverage optical networking technology to enable super-fast gigabit Ethernet and storage connectivity.

It will significantly reduce capital expenses, as well as simplify network management and optimisation. Nortel''s Metro Ethernet-based PBB / PBT technologies will be used to provide VPN and point-to-point Ethernet transport services for airlines. PBT combines carrier-grade reliability and ease of management with the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of Ethernet, to provide a high-bandwidth network that has great efficiency and control.

Advanced communications services like SIP-based presence, IM, collaboration, conferencing and messaging will simplify the way people connect and communicate across the expansive airport area, helping reduce cost of operations and equipping staff to respond more quickly to customer needs.