'3G and 4G services are expected to make an impact in all spheres of travel'

How is the information and communication technology transforming the aviation industry in India?

The transformation in the aviation industry in the true sense has begun with private airports deploying industry leading technology. In the network backbone or application services over private cloud offerings, leveraging the enterprise class solutions which individual organizations cannot justify deploying. Converged communication on the IP platform is changing the landscape of how private airports and airlines as partners are able to provide good experience in their touch points of travel.

What are the major technological challenges being faced by the aviation industry?

Airlines and airports can leverage RFID technology provided there is an agreed open industry standard, be it for baggage tags or passenger boarding passes. Due to non standardization and high costs, there is a delay in the wide adoption of this technology. Once security concerns get addressed, mobile and internet technology access for check in and security fast track would become a common place instead of restricted access.

It is also our expectation that in all airports in India, there would be a higher adoption of technology to share aviation related operational data exchange between all stakeholders, airlines, airports, and AAI-ATC systems on real-time basis to truly facilitate Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) approach.

With VMS & VA enhanced and newer non-intrusive surveillance, solutions needs to be deployed to have a secure travel.

How has the convergence improved services offered by the aviation sector?

Convergence has most certainly improved the services offered by this sector. The new generation aircrafts like B 777,A 380 , and A360 do have what is popularly known as Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) which needs digital broadband. Voice and data convergence on IP is happening more than never before.

Be it border management or live data transfers between air-borne flights to ground control or for infotainment, IP convergence of voice, data and video has become a reality and once the traction increases, it will become common place.

Which are the new technologies that BIAL is planning to implement?

In the next FY 2011-12, it is proposed to implement mobility solutions to capture operational Key Performance Indicators (KPI's) on real-time to effectively intervene in time rather than analyses.

We plan to deploy next fiscal multimedia touch screen kiosks not only to provide information to passengers, but most importantly to secure 'feedback' be it complaints or comments or compliments in all the touch points in the airport travel process. This would enable to keep making course corrections as may be needed, and enhance the travel experience of passengers at the Bengaluru International Airport.

Which are the communication tech systems that have reshaped BIAL?

Bengaluru International Airport was the first airport to deploy 'Digital Tetra' for airside operational communications. BIAL has created a unified IP platform using the same IP port for voice and data (Optical Fibre cable and Cat 6) and extend VLAN for the multi tenements. As a service provider within the airport for plug-and- play services, BIAL has deployed pure play IP be it for voice or data and clients get to pay per use model, and get the benefit of using either an ISP or an enterprise class systems.

Which technologies have enhanced aviation security?

Security is a major point of concern and more in airports. It needs to be as non-intrusive as possible and unified convergent IP platform plays a great part in this.

Given the current security context, IP cameras with robust video management system have become the primary baseline need. Since the number of cameras and different location criteria needs to be factored as well, it also becomes inescapable to deploy Video Analytics (VA) and have defined business rules to trigger alerts in the Security Operations Center (SOC).

Are there any less considered communication mechanization which can add value?

Bluetooth enabled application could help subscribers to receive some targeted special offers at their end point devices from retail or F&B in the airport. Smart chip or RFID embedded loyalty cards can be used for the fast lane Q process for queries from immigration of security. 3G and 4G services are expected to make an impact in all spheres of travel as well.

Malini N

malinin@cybermedia.co.in