Hytera completes major DMR deployment for TIBAH Airports

Hytera announced that it has recently completed the installation of a Hytera Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) Trunking Lite system at the expanded Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah, the second holiest city in Islam after Mecca, for operator TIBAH Airports Development Company.

The airport - the fourth biggest and busiest in Saudi Arabia which handled 5.8 million passengers in 2015, including 802,592 Hajj and 2.14 million Umrah passengers – was reinaugurated on July 2, 2015 after undergoing a major USD 1.2 billion expansion.

Shortly after the revamped airport’s operation, TIBAH Airports Development Company noticed a decline in daily performance and work efficiency caused by the inefficiency of the existing Push-to-Talk system which was then using outdated Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDen) technology. Personnel complained of unstable communications, poor internal coverage, lack of voice recording capabilities and absence of aftersales service, among others, prompting the operator to seek a new independent, reliable and professional mobile radio system.

To address these issues and adopt a more agile and reliable mobile communications network, TIBAH Airports Development Company commissioned Hytera to replace the legacy iDen network with its DMR Trunking Lite, a digital trunked radio solution based on the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) open standard which features easy installation, convenient transportation and compact design. For the Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport, Hytera deployed 150 terminals supporting crystal-clear digital voice along with versatile data services such as messaging, GPS and Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) tracking feature and voice recording.

The new system enables dispatchers to identify onsite staff’s location and movement by using the GPS and AVL functions. All voice communications are recorded and can be played back for checking and verification. The Hytera terminals are rigid and reliable, complying with IP67 (fully water and dust proof) and American Military standards. A Bio-Directional Amplifier (BDA) has been installed for signal enhancement, while a public switched telephone network (PSTN) gateway makes it easier for management to communicate with staff onsite.

Since the upgrade, the airport has been reporting consistently seamless, safe and reliable communications and vastly improved working efficiency. TIBAH Airports Development Company foresees future expansions on the system to meet growing passenger volume.

Eng. Fahim Iqbal, Telecom Supervisor, TIBAH Airports Development Company, said: “Clear and reliable communications is critical to the safety, comfort and satisfaction of all airport customers and personnel. Hytera trunking solution delivers this and more, providing a flexible network structure, robust functions and a wealth of applications to ensure optimal operational performance at lower infrastructure costs. Management and staff at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport can now focus more on their core operations knowing that they are supported by a robust radio communications network.”