transportation case Study

Airport Communications

Dubai International Airport

Zetron MPT 1327 Network Facilitates Airport’s
$4.1 Billion Expansion Plan

The Dubai International Airport

inaugurated its first commercial flights
in 1960, with a fleet of DC-3 propeller-
driven airplanes. Back then, Dubai
was home to nine airlines. Today, this
world-class airport is the hub for Dubai’s
international airline, Emirates, and is
used by passenger and cargo fleets
from most of the world’s major carriers.

In a 2005 survey conducted by the

high profile travel magazine Business
Traveler Germany, readers voted Dubai
International Airport the best airport in
the Middle East and Africa. In fact,
the airport has received 36 international
awards to date.

expansion plans: scale of the construction effort and the sprawling

Keeping in mind its mission statement to be the
best in the world, in 2005 the Department of Civil
Aviation commenced the second phase of a $4.1
billion expansion program. The project includes
the construction of Terminal 3, Concourse
2, and Concourse 3, all of which will be exclusive
to Emirates. Additional plans call for a Mega Cargo
Terminal, a flower center, an apron area, and a
major upgrade of Terminal 2.
layout of the airport, the radio system had to
provide RF coverage for the entire terminal
building, concourse and car park area throughout
the duration of the expansion project. This
was complicated by the fact that the complete
structure includes six floors below grade and
two to three floors above grade, with each floor
encompassing a coverage area of one square
kilometer.

In 2005, 24.7 million passengers passed through
Dubai. When the phase-two expansion is com-
pleted by the end of 2006, the Dubai Inter-national
Airport will have the capacity to handle 70 million
passengers and 3.5 million tons of cargo per year.
mpt 1327:
In any project of this size, modern, efficient
communications are a necessity. Because of the
Other key requirements included:
• 1500 to 2,000 subscribers
• 100+ sub contractors requiring 150-200
talk groups
• 100 to 200 subscribers with individual call
facilities by expected project completion date
in 2008
• Emergency call capability
• Priority call capability
joint effort produces results:
The solution to these requirements was
supplied through a collaborative effort
between Zetron, Ariba Celcom and
UKbased Aerial Facilities, Ltd. (AFL).
The result was a 16-channel MPT 1327
system using 16 Zetron Model 827 MPT
1327 Controllers and Kenwood TKR-850
repeaters enclosed in three 46U cabinets.
The communications equipment includes
Kenwood TK-3180 MPT Portable Radios
and Kenwood TK-8180 MPT Base Stations.

Ariba Celcom’s reputation as an effective

provider of wireless solutions in the UAE
(United Arab Emirates), coupled with the
company’s experience in the execution
of similar large and complex projects was
a key factor in winning the contract for
the Dubai airport system. Another major
factor was Ariba Celcom’s ability to provide 24-hour Dubai Civil Aviation and Habtoor, Murray & Roberts,
after-sales engineering support for the duration of Takenaka JV (HMRT) were the main contractors
the project. Ariba Celcom engineers installed and on the MPT project under instructions from the
commissioned the entire system, while Zetron Dubai Civil Aviation Authority. HMRT selected
provided technical information and equipment Zetron because of the company’s ability to provide
orientation on the MPT 1327 system. a communications solution customized to the
unique requirements of the Dubai Airport expansion
Aerial Facilities Ltd. (AFL), the third partner, program. What’s more, Ariba Celcom management
developed the RF coverage design and cabling promoted the use of Zetron equipment in preference
layout for the terminal building. Providing total RF to solutions offered by other major equipment
coverage in modern, multi-story buildings is always manufacturers. n
a challenge and requires a sophisticated antenna
system. To accomplish this, AFL designed a 16-
channel combiner-multicoupler system with 7/8”
and ½” low loss coaxial cable extended to antennas
strategically located on various floors above and
below grade. AFL successfully commissioned the
MPT network during a site visit.

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