Atlanta Airport expands Wi-Fi, cell phone coverage

There's the old saying that whether you go to heaven or hell, you will have to change planes in Atlanta. Soon, at the world's busiest airport, you will have improved cell phone coverage and greatly expanded access to the Internet on Wi-Fi connections

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport this week announced the details of a $5.4 million multi-faceted contract with SITA for wireless and management services. SITA's system for Atlanta includes the design and implementation of an airport-wide Wi-Fi and cellular wireless network, as well as management of the airport's new fiber, cellular and Wi-Fi network for a period of one year.

"This solution will improve the passenger experience at Atlanta Airport by allowing travelers to access the Internet and use of their mobile phones anywhere in the airport," said Atlanta airport General Manager Ben DeCosta. "Passengers traveling through the Atlanta airport can stay in touch via Wi-Fi from the front door of the airport, to the underground transportation mall, to every gate at every concourse. Our passengers will have the benefit of this new service this fall, and we are very excited for the launch."

The system for Atlanta International covers three main areas:

1. A Wi-Fi system for the entire airport that provides Internet access for all passengers. Internet access will be via a "neutral host" allowing the passengers the flexibility to choose their own Wireless Internet Service Provider. The wireless system will support data services, as well as voice and video. This secure system is also designed for use by the City of Atlanta DOA, the airlines, and airport tenants.

2. A distributed antenna system that provides passengers with high quality cell phone coverage throughout the airport and transportation mall, regardless of the cell phone carrier.

3. A fully-managed network operation center with Department of Aviation (airport) and SITA staff on site to provide ongoing operation, security and maintenance of the airport's fiber network and the wireless network.

"We are extremely pleased to offer the first truly neutral host system in an airport to visitors of Hartsfield-Jackson, in the same city as our global business unit and North American headquarters," said Senior Vice President of Airport and Desktop Services John Jarrell. "This shared infrastructure improves the passenger experience by making Wi-Fi available to passengers as well as airport and airline employees, with a neutral host offering great flexibility."

This project is presently in the implementation phase and will be fully operational in the fourth quarter of 2005.

SITA INC (Information Networking Computing) is a global provider of air transport focused applications, communications and IT infrastructure. SITA is registered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and reported revenues of $642 million in 2004.