Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport deploys Fujitsu's Flashwave MSPP
October 18, 2005 Richardson, TX -- Fujitsu Network Communications announced that the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has deployed Fujitsu's Flashwave 4000 Multi-service Provisioning Platforms (MSPPs) in support of mission-critical air traffic control, tower radio, and data communications applications.
According to a press release, the upgraded intra-airport network, built as part of the "Hartsfield-Jackson Development Program (H-JDP) Focus on the Future" capital improvement project, now serves as the backbone of a sophisticated communications infrastructure, and is currently carrying live traffic.
"Airport communication networks present one of the greatest reliability challenges in the world because they cannot tolerate any interruption in communication whatsoever," remarks Doug Saylor, senior vice president of planning and development at Fujitsu Network Communications. "[The Atlanta airport's directors] were initially interested in the Fujitsu Flashwave 4000 products because they are used extensively in the carrier-class networks of our nation's largest telecommunications carriers, and rigorous lab testing proved why that is the case. The products deployed are designed and manufactured in the U.S., which was also a consideration."
According to the release, the upgraded airport communications network is carrying Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach data between runways and the air traffic control tower. Weather information and voice and data communications may be added in the future to allow for enhanced air traffic management. The airport selected a Unidirectional Path Switched Ring (UPSR)-based network as part of the FAA airport modernization program.
UPSR SONET technology is used extensively throughout the carrier-class networks of all major telecommunications carriers due to its proven ability to support highly reliable communications. With UPSR, information is sent in both directions around a network ring. The receiving node monitors the quality of both received signals and uses the higher quality signal, which provides for uninterrupted communications in the event of signal degradation or a complete fiber cut.
"The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport needed a solution to replace several disparate, overlay networks of limited capacity with one streamlined, high capacity network with backup capabilities," continues Saylor. "The Flashwave 4100 and Flashwave 4010 MSPPs that the airport selected are deployed all across the U.S. in major telecommunication networks to provide those same benefits, but the unique survivability requirements of the world's busiest passenger airport were the real reason why the airport selected Fujitsu products."
Fujitsu says its Flashwave 4100 MSPP is optimized for the delivery of traditional private line and next-generation Ethernet over SONET (EoS) data services via a highly scalable architecture. Multiple SONET rings can be hubbed in a single platform, and Resilient Packet Ring (RPR) capabilities enable efficient support of Ethernet/Fast Ethernet (10/100BaseT) or Gigabit Ethernet services. Also used in the deployment, the Flashwave 4010 remote extension device is a compact OC-3 access module that the company says is optimized for simplicity and low cost to enable optical delivery of DS1 or DS3 services with improved profitability.
The company notes that the entire platform has received "RUS Technical Acceptance" and "Buy American" status, allowing airports to more quickly and efficiently update their complex communications systems.
The Hartsfield-Jackson Development Program (H-JDP) Focus on the Future, established in 1999, is a 10-year capital improvement project. The airport says it served over 83.6 million passengers in 2004.