Arcep, France’s electronic communications, postal and print media distribution regulatory authority, has granted a 10-year 4G/5G license to ADP Group company Hub One, in order to launch a high-speed private mobile network covering Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Paris-Orly and Paris-Le Bourget airports.
Air France, which is also involved in developing this future 4G/5G network, will thus become the first airline to use this innovative solution.
This unprecedented partnership between Air France, Hub One and the ADP Group alongside an operational network scheduled to enter into force in 2020 will ensure optimal use of the bandwidth granted by Arcep, taking into account each operator’s specific requirements.
Within the framework of this three-party partnership, Air France will benefit from Arcep’s attributed frequencies provided by Hub One. Innovation is an essential component for Air France, which forms an integral part of the Air France-KLM group’s strategy. The company is thus naturally investing in this project as part of its ambition to be an active player in the air transport sector of the future.
After having initiated conclusive tests of the 4G/5G network with ramp and ground staff for departing and arriving flights, Air France plans to improve its operational performance and customer satisfaction. This innovation will allow the company to streamline its flight operations thanks to a swifter exchange of information via existing mobile terminals such as baggage scanners or professional tablets, and simplify working conditions for staff through an enhanced communication network, and eventually optimize the use of Prognos, its predictive maintenance tool. In the long term, all Air France staff’s communication tools will be connected to this 4G/5G network, which will also facilitate all data, voice and video communication.
A major step towards the airport of the future
The airport sector is currently undergoing a major digital transformation – professional uses continue to change and require the adoption of cutting-edge technologies. Arcep’s license of frequencies in the 2.6 GHz TDD bandwidth thus have a role to play in developing the “smart airport” that the ADP Group is promoting to facilitate the emergence of new services aimed at creating smoother and more secure operations and an improved customer experience.
Hub One’s roll-out of a high-speed and evolutionary professional network is at the heart of this digital transformation. Frequencies will initially be operated in 4G on a network preconfigured for 5G and which could switch over once the ecosystem is mature. This private mobile network will drive all the services currently present within the Paris airports (mobile telephony, PMR(1), baggage traceability, etc.) for airlines, as well as numerous other professionals, companies and State services. It will also allow us to introduce innovative services requiring high mobile bandwidth speeds. Unlike the 4G networks for use by the general public that also cover airports in the Paris region, this 4G/5G Pro network will offer a highly available, secure mobility solution dedicated to all operational uses.
Edward Arkwright, CEO of the ADP Group and Chairman of Hub One, stated “It is essential to offer companies and the entire economic ecosystem operating at our airports the best technological conditions to allow activity to develop, and this partnership signed with Air France and our subsidiary Hub One, thanks to whom we have obtained this license, is a step in this direction. With this new high-speed network, we are increasing the attractiveness of our platforms, so that they continue to be catalysts for economic activity and providers of employment.”
For Guillaume de Lavallade, CEO of Hub One, « The 4G/5G Pro frequency license is excellent news for Hub One. On the strength of our expertise, we operate in a complex environment and are constantly innovating to support our customers in their digital transformation. The roll-out of a private mobile 4G/5G network is a major step in accelerating the development of the smart airport and thus better respond to players’ 4.0 industry challenges.”
Finally, Jean-Christophe Lalanne, Executive Vice President Information Technology Air France-KLM said: “This initiative is an additional way of striving for operational excellence and will enable us to be even more competitive in the future. This is why we have chosen to invest in this innovative programme, which supports the Air France-KLM Group's strategy. Air France is proud to now be equipping itself with a very high-speed professional mobile network to meet the expectations of both its customers and employees.”
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