Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
worked with Betacom on a trial to build a Private
Network. With extremely large operations, wifi
service is insufficient to provide a full mobile
coverage to employees, sensor machines and
passengers. DFW airport covers 26.9 miles with five
terminals, seven runways and 168 gates. It has its
own data centers, police force and fire department.
It employs more than 30,000 workers.
Challenges
DFW uses sensor technologies to monitor the
operations. They installed sensors on escalators,
parking lot, restrooms and concession areas. Imaging
technologies like cameras and CCTVs are widely
used to ensure security in the airport. With all the
security devices in place, some of the sensors loses
of connection due to the high volume of network
traffic. The management also lacks the visibility to
these data traffic that may enhance their business
intelligence. Some areas in the airport doesn’t have
any internet connection at all.
Solution & Benefits
The recommended infrastructure design is a Private Network using CBRS spectrum under General
Authorized Access. With Betacom’s partnership with Airspan, its CBRS and Open RAN solutions were
used. The test was conducted at American Airlines Gate 9 to support their baggage sorting. The test
was successful. Low latency and high bandwidth performance were achieved.
The airport management looks forward to extend this network architecture as a potential business that
they can offer to airlines and concessionaires. This will also help them to improve their autonomous
vehicles and robotics which are existing at their warehouse operations. Facial recognition of people
coming inside and out of the airport can also be made possible.
