BA rings in changes with T5 IP network

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British Airways (BA) has completed tests of its internet protocol (IP) network in Terminal 5, signalling that the airline is entering the final countdown before it opens the doors of its new home terminal next month.

The Fast Ethernet Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) has been given the green light following rigorous testing involving check-in, baggage and boarding processes and a 3,000-strong group of volunteer testers.

The £4.5 billion development is heavily reliant on state-of-the art technology to ensure it can effectively and efficiently handle the 30 million-plus passengers it is anticipated will pass through T5 once open.

The new high-speed MAN, designed and implemented by long-term partner Affiniti, will carry mission-critical information and makes use of some 7,000 available ports to support the 5,000 BA staff using the systems, across buildings T5A and T5B.

"Moving into our new home at Heathrow is a great opportunity to optimise the technology that lies behind our operation here. We've made sure that everything we're doing has been well proven in the existing terminals, but bringing it all together in a fantastic new building will ensure a great experience for our passengers and staff," said Phil Hawker, manager of communications networks at BA. "Affiniti has done a great job, working with our in-house team and BAA, to install and commission the network in time for live operation and I'm pleased to say that it's passed its assurance testing with flying colours."

The conclusion of the IP network testing marks another component of the well-oiled machine that is the T5 development project where everything possible is being done to ensure a smooth opening day on 27 March.

"Almost every airport in history has opened late, cost more and had major operational difficulties in its first days, months or years of operation. The most common explanation is the quaint phrase that they had system integration problems. That will not be the case with Terminal 5," Nick Gaines, BAA's director of business critical systems and IT, said last year.

"Most of our systems have been trialled in other airports so they will have reached a state of maturity when Terminal 5 opens. It's about risk management and working out when we need to make decisions and about using open standards, avoiding unproven technologies and knowing where to integrate and where not to. Integration is not just about putting IT systems together, it's about bringing people and processes together too."

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