DMR Takes off with Saudia
Ground-based DMR Systems Tie into a New, Converged IT Network to Offer One-step Calling
Background
Saudi Arabian Airlines operating as Saudi is the flag carrier airline of Saudi Arabia, based in Jeddah. The airline reverted to its abbreviated English brand name Saudi (used from 1972 to 1996) from Saudi Arabian Airlines (historic name in use until 1971 and reintroduced in 1997) on 29 May 2012; the name was changed to celebrate the company’s entry into the SkyTeam airline alliance on that day, and it was a part of a larger re branding initiative. It operates domestic and international scheduled flights to over 120 destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. Domestic and international charter flights are operated, mostly during Ramadan and the Hajj season.
Challenges
The airline’s main operational base is at Jeddah-King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED). Other major hubs are Riyadh-King Khalid International Airport (RUH), and Dammam-King Fahd International Airport (DMM). The new Dammam airport was opened for commercial use on 28 November 1999.
Since the workload of these airports located in different cities become heavier, the management task and cost is the first pain point of Saudi Arabian Airline. In this situation, management team of Saudi Arabian Airline need to deploy a new radio system which can connect all the airports and provide unified dispatching function with voice recording in each airport.
Solution
Through the new radio system, a converged network that securely carries data, voice and video, the radios will serve Saudi 4 international airports and interconnect with more than 500 Saudi Arabian Airlines offices in 60 countries.
With over 4000 handhelds, mobiles and base stations plus full indoor coverage solution, it will provide instant communications for companies in the Saudi Arabian Airlines group, their strategic business units and affiliates. Most importantly, it will support staff on the ground in their task of moving passengers, baggage and cargo shipments on to and off Saudi aircraft, and speeding their movement through the terminals.
Values brought by Hytera Solution
Hytera offer the full DMR Trunking solution for SAUDI to upgrade the current analog trunking system with following advantages:
1. Digital system increases the frequency efficiency required by the government and customer.
2. Both indoor and outdoor solutions for the airport coverage.
3. No single point failure solution with redundancy for each core component.
4. Customer integration solution between DMR Trunking system and other communication systems used by the customer.
5. Customization for SAUDI on the product feature and design.
Key features of Hytera solutions
Multiple level redundancy design
Superior audio performance
Doubling of capacity in existing licensed channels
Efficient use of infrastructure equipment, longer battery life and greater power efficiency for our handheld terminals
System flexibility through simultaneous use of TDMA channels and advanced control features
Backwards spectrum compatibility with legacy systems
Security of supply through a fully open, well established, widely backed standard
Voice from Customer
“We are counting much on this project as a means to improve our operational excellence and also add much cost-efficiency into our infrastructure. It’s part of our…I call it our IT master plan – to modernize everything.”
“We are greatly impressed by Hytera’s commitment and its corporate culture. This includes a willingness on Hytera’s part to build a significant change into its product in response to suggestions made by the airline’s team.”
IT department at Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudi)
http://www.hytera.com/solution/case/6552.html
