Reducing TCO, maximising space usage, and improving sustainability with passive optical LAN

Airports are embracing Industry 4.0 technologies such as industrial Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to expand their operational awareness, automate processes and improve their end-to-end efficiency.

As the digital sophistication of the airport increases, the airport local area network (LAN) needs to expand to provide secure, reliable, high-bandwidth connectivity for gate operations, baggage systems, surveillance cameras, kiosks, security systems, biometrics, digital signage and more.

The LAN must also provide connectivity to a variety of stakeholders within the airport, including restaurants, shops, travel agencies and ground transportation support. In addition, it should deliver robust support for wireless systems such as Wi-Fi for passengers and private wireless for airport operations, as well as critical communications for police and first responders.

Today’s business climate calls for a smarter, greener and more cost-efficient way of deploying airport networks. Passive optical LAN can help airports address these priorities while ensuring reliability and quality of service for all airport stakeholders.

Join us on 19 May for a webinar by Nokia on how a cost-effective, scalable and flexible optical LAN can support all sub-systems in an airport and grow as the airport adopts new digital applications and services in the future.

About passive optical LAN

Passive optical LANs leverage the tremendous bandwidth capacity of optical fibre, as well as its ability to cover large distances without the need for space-consuming intermediate electronics. Most airports currently use distance restricted CATx-based LANs that require a closet or equipment room no more than 90m away from the end device. Fibre’s ability to support terabits of bandwidth also provides investment protection for the airport.

The webinar will focus on how passive optical LANs can overcome the constraints of CATx-based LANs to provide airports with a wireline LAN foundation that fully supports their digitalisation journey.

Benefits of optical LAN

• Space savings: A passive optical LAN removes the need to use airport closets or equipment rooms to hold racks for switches, MDFs and HVAC systems.
• Cost efficiencies: Optical LANs lower CAPEX and OPEX and provide additional cost benefits through reduced power consumption, reduced HVAC investment and reduced footprint.
• CO2 reduction: Optical LANs consume much less power than CATx solutions.