affini launches the first commercial DMR service at Heathrow T2

affini Technology Ltd., specialists in connecting technology, with more than twenty years’ experience in delivering end-to-end critical and real-time communications, wireless and ICT solutions to the UK’s largest organisations, has launched the first commercial Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) service at Heathrow Terminal 2, the Queen’s Terminal.

affini Real-Time Connect (aRTC) is a unified communications platform for business-critical communications, delivered from the cloud. As the number one provider of radio services at Heathrow, and across UK aviation, affini selected Motorola’s digital platform, MOTOTRBO™ Connect Plus, as a key component in extending its aRTC service at Heathrow airport. By incorporating MOTOTRBO Connect Plus aRTC will deliver an airport wide digital trunk radio service that is also integrated into the new common wireless and IT infrastructure at T2 and other terminals at Heathrow.

As airwaves have become more congested, analogue private mobile radio (PMR) has reached its limits. Organisations with a requirement for business-critical and safety-critical communications have sought a digital protocol for radio communications that improves spectrum efficiency and enables features in addition to traditional voice over radio.

Among a host of other next generation features, the DMR service includes digital presence, allowing managers to locate devices on a console, so that they can ensure that personnel and assets are in the correct areas of the airport to provide optimal service to airlines and passengers.

The MOTOTRBO Connect Plus digital trunk radio system will provide an extension to the aRTC platform for secure, prioritised communications between the management and operational staff of ground handling companies, airlines and staff throughout the new terminal. The aRTC platform at Heathrow has capacity to support more than 5,000 users.

The MOTOTRBO DMR network forms part of affini’s Unified Real-Time communication hosted service at Heathrow, which also uses the WAVE™ integration platform to connect analogue and digital environments over IP. The IP integration enables smartphones to act as “PTT radios” over any IP connection, extending the reach and capability of the whole platform. This creates a unified communications platform enabling any-to-any connectivity between radios, smart devices, desktops, VoIP and business applications.

Jason Colombo, affini CEO commented, “affini is renowned for its ability to deliver complex end-to-end business critical communication systems, by working with leading suppliers and marshalling expert resources to create the best solutions. By integrating MOTOTRBO Connect Plus into aRTC, Heathrow is one of the first airports to benefit from a commercial DMR system of this scale. This delivers a secure platform that allows service companies and the wider airport community to communicate on their preferred devices, without being restricted to particular networks or constrained by location or protocols.”

affini works with the UK’s largest organisations to design, build and operate technology solutions that facilitate integrated and real-time communications: enabling processes to be performed more efficiently and sharing information and business intelligence that assists decision making. affini serves seven core industries: corporate & infrastructure; transportation; telecommunications; public safety; government; security & public venues; energy & resources