March 30, 2004

Airports

SITA and Cisco Systems Collaborate

March 30, 2004 10:00

New Terminal 1 at Toronto Pearson International Airport Showcases Cisco Intelligent Airport Solutions

SITA and Cisco Systems Collaborate to Implement Joint Solution to Streamline Operations, Improve Security and Drive New Services


TORONTO & SAN JOSE, Calif., Mar 30, 2004 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Cisco Systems(R) and the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) today announced that a Cisco(R) Intelligent Airport Solution will form the foundation to deliver dramatic operational and passenger benefits, making the new $4.4 billion (CAD) terminal at Toronto Pearson International Airport a next generation showcase for airports around the world.

Cisco Intelligent Airport Solutions -- a flexible, scalable and intelligent network solution specifically designed for the air transportation industry -- will help enable the GTAA to converge 14 separate networks and 11 information silos into a single, more secure network at the new terminal. This resilient communications infrastructure integrates data, voice and video to benefit the airport, airlines, travelers, tenants and partners. By integrating Cisco's networking solutions with SITA's new AirportConnect platform, the GTAA is able to make the promise of a common-use facility a reality, supporting both dedicated and shared-use systems including baggage and passenger processing.

"Airport executives are under heavy pressure to provide secure transportation while reducing costs, implementing new business processes and driving new services," said James Burke, vice president, Information Technology and Telecommunications at the GTAA. "We view the network as the foundation of our business and operations strategy to create a secure common-communications infrastructure, enable new applications, and offer a service-oriented environment for the airport."

"Cisco has worked closely with the GTAA to establish the new Terminal 1 as a world-class facility. As a result of our collaboration, the airport of the future is here today," said Terry Walsh, president of Cisco Systems Canada. "By providing technology, services and vision, Cisco is helping the GTAA drive new levels of efficiency, security and responsiveness for the air transportation industry."

"Working with GTAA and Cisco, SITA has created a truly open-system IT platform supporting the cost and efficiency advantages of a shared-use community, while accommodating the flexibility and control of a dedicated one," said John Jarrell, senior vice president, Airport and Desktop Services, SITA INC. "With Cisco Intelligent Airport Solutions and SITA's AirportConnect passenger processing, self-service kiosks, and integrated baggage solutions, GTAA becomes the leader in airport IT systems."

Cisco and SITA at Work at GTAA

The new Terminal 1 at Toronto Pearson will open on April 6, 2004. Cisco's networking systems and SITA's airport platforms and applications will help enable a wide range of operational benefits, including:

-- Enhanced safety and security for travelers, baggage and
airport workers and visitors.

-- Operational efficiency and flexibility, and reduced costs:
Optimize capacity (15 percent improvement at Toronto Pearson)
and productivity; deliver new applications or services at a
lower cost; decrease network, maintenance, and training costs;
streamline passenger flow.

-- New revenues and services: Offer customized services that
integrate voice, video and data to airlines, travelers and
tenants.

-- Network security, resiliency and responsiveness: Protect
against internal and external network and data infrastructure
threats and outages.

Cisco Intelligent Airport Solutions:

Cisco has designed this set of networking business solutions for the air transportation industry that provides a cohesive, resilient, and responsive airport operating environment. Cisco Intelligent Airport Solutions help enable the following:

Security Solutions

-- Physical Security: Networks for video surveillance and access
control systems.

-- Emergency Response: Wired and wireless communications network
to help enable security personnel to communicate rapidly with
passengers, airlines, government agencies or personnel, and
first responders.

-- Network Security: Consistent security services across the
network for network perimeter security, data privacy, network
monitoring, intrusion detection, and firewalls.

Networking Solutions for Common Use Environments

-- Flexible Gates: Integrated voice/data network with IP
Telephony integrated with common use check-in and gate
applications, such as SITA AirportConnect. This enables
multi-airline gate utilization, delivery of differentiated
services/applications to airlines, and reduced airline gate
costs over time.

-- Self-Service Kiosks: Fixed and wireless networking for
passenger check-in, ticketing and airport information services
via service counters, kiosks, and remote access sites to
improve passenger flow and space utilization.

-- Integrated Baggage Solutions: Common network infrastructure to
integrate baggage tracking and passenger reconciliation
applications with security infrastructure to enhance security,
improve customer service, and reduce the cost of mishandled
baggage.

Wireless Internet Access Solutions

-- Passengers: Cisco Mobile Office offers helps secure passenger
Internet access to increase passenger productivity and access
to airport services.

-- Operations: Wireless access to operational systems,
applications and data to decrease facility infrastructure
costs and increase operational flexibility.

The Cisco Intelligent Airports Solutions initiative is part of a larger set of Cisco solutions announced today under the program name "Cisco Intelligent Transportation" (See: Cisco March 30 press release titled: Cisco Unveils Comprehensive Suite of Networking Solutions for Transportation Industry).

For more information about Cisco Intelligent Transportation Solutions, go to: www.cisco.com/go/transportation.

About Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems, Inc (Nasdaq:CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Information on Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, go to http://newsroom.cisco.com.

About GTAA

The Greater Toronto Airports Authority is the private, not-for-profit corporation that operates Toronto Pearson International Airport. Groundbreaking took place in December of 1998 for the Airport Development Program, a 10-year, $4.4-billion project that features the new Terminal 1. Toronto Pearson handled 24.7-million passengers in 2003. For more information, visit www.gtaa.com.

About SITA INC

SITA INC (Information Networking Computing) is the world's leading provider of air transport focused applications, communications and IT infrastructure, enabling its customers to realize greater operational efficiencies and enhanced profitability. Building on a heritage of innovation, the company provides services to air transport customers and to related industries, as well as government authorities, offering a unique portfolio of solutions. SITA INC is registered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and recorded revenues of US $697 million in 2002. Further information can be found at www.sita.aero.

Cisco, Cisco Systems, and the Cisco Systems logo are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc.

SOURCE: Cisco Systems, Inc

Cisco Systems Canada
Willa Black, 1-416-306-7732
[email protected]
or
SITA
Karl Moore, +44 (0) 208-757-8024
[email protected]
or
GTAA
Steve Shaw, 1-416-776-3709
(Corporate Affairs & Communications)
[email protected]

Posted by Craig at March 30, 2004 03:13 PM