Fujitsu Lands in LAX

RICHARDSON, Texas -- Fujitsu Network Communications Inc., a leading supplier of IT and wireline/wireless networking solutions, announced today that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), the world’s fifth busiest airport, has deployed Fujitsu FLASHWAVE® 4000 Multiservice Provisioning Platforms (MSPPs) and the NETSMART® 1500 Element Management System (EMS) to modernize and add reliability to their intra-airport communications network. The upgraded network will support mission-critical data communications associated with the radar system and air traffic control tower. This upgrade will also increase the security and reliability of FAA air traffic control communications at LAX while making airport operations much more efficient.

“Airports have unique and critical communications requirements in today’s society where security and reliability are more important than ever,” said Bill Erickson, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Fujitsu Network Communications. “The FAA was initially interested in using our FLASHWAVE 4000 products at LAX because they have a proven track record in other airports, including the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, as well as in carrier-class telecommunication networks. The products deployed are designed and manufactured in the U.S., which was also a consideration.”

The upgraded airport communications network is carrying short- and long-range radar system data, weather condition information, Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach data between runways and the air traffic control tower, and private voice and data communications to allow for enhanced air traffic management.

The FAA selected a Unidirectional Path Switched Ring (UPSR) based network at LAX as part of the FAA airport modernization program. UPSR SONET technology is used extensively throughout the carrier-class networks of all major telecommunications carriers due to its proven ability to support highly reliable communications and built-in network redundancy. With UPSR, information is sent in both directions around a network ring. The receiving node monitors the quality of both received signals and uses the higher quality signal, which provides for uninterrupted communications in the event of signal degradation or a complete fiber cut.

“The FAA wanted to create a state-of-the-art intra-airport communication system at LAX that not only features the latest technology, but also gives them additional bandwidth, network reliability and high security,” Erickson continued. “These features are required for critical airport communications and are the reason why the FAA selected our field-proven Fujitsu FLASHWAVE 4000 products for LAX, which are widely deployed across the U.S. for mission-critical network applications. The NETSMART 1500 EMS ensures they will be able to easily manage and provision network elements.”

Fujitsu Ltd. (Tokyo: 6702; London: FUJ; OTC: FJTSY)