SITA, the air transport industry’s tech engine, has partnered with Tellabs to roll out a next-generation Passive Optical LAN (PON) solution, designed to replace copper-based cabling with high-speed, fibre-optic infrastructure for airports. The system promises ultra-reliable, scalable and secure connectivity across terminals, hangars and critical operational zones.
The updated SITA PON network offers future-proofed bandwidth to support real-time, data-intensive applications such as HD surveillance, IoT devices, and smart airport systems. It enables connectivity over distances of up to 20km without the need for active components, significantly reducing maintenance and energy costs.
Martin Smillie, Senior Vice President for Communications and Data Exchange at SITA, said the move responds to mounting data demands across complex airport environments: “Existing platforms are struggling to meet capacity needs. SITA PON removes these constraints, delivering secure and scalable fibre-optic performance for airports, airlines and ground handlers.”
The system’s optical network terminals and centralised architecture simplify network management, enabling continuous high-bandwidth communication with reduced downtime. Rich Schroder, President and CEO of Tellabs, added: “Together, we’re providing critical infrastructure that ensures seamless, secure and sustainable connectivity for modern airports worldwide.”
By adopting SITA PON, airports can expect lower operational costs, higher resilience, and a network architecture capable of supporting future digital transformation – from cloud-based management systems to next-generation smart devices.