Heathrow trunk network upgraded

AirRadio has completed the upgrade to the London Heathrow Trunk Network, deploying Xfin technology from Team Simoco.

Emergency response units will benefit from increased capacity, enhanced calling functionality and system resilience. Xfin’s channel pooling technology enables any available channel to be automatically allocated to any radio, maximising channel usage across the site and simplifying call set up for the user.

AirRadio Operations Director, John Fincham, explained: “In terms of system resilience we now know that the network can cope in an emergency scenario, for example the recent event in January involving Flight BA038. The network remained active and uncongested during this time, enabling all our customers to communicate immediate instructions regarding their operations.”

The introduction of cross system group calling allows radios to operate in a roaming mode across the whole network, rather than previously needing to be assigned to key areas of the network, such as a specified terminal. The Xfin upgrade has created a single operational zone across all airport terminals at Heathrow for sharing critical information, enabling operations control to call resources from any part of the airport if needed at short notice.

Xfin comprises the latest MPT1327 trunked radio base stations with IP ethernet connectivity to provide a completely fault tolerant, open architecture, radio communications system. Xfin provides an IP addressable base station, allowing remote configuration from authorised personnel and web-based diagnostics. In addition, each Xfin has a telephone interface for connecting PABX/PSTN line interface, with full VoIP routing on the IP network to guarantee non-blocking to telephones.