Many airports in the UK are seeking to grow, whether through increased passenger capacity by constructing new runways or expanding existing terminals to meet rising demand. In August, ministers approved London City Airport’s application to expand. October saw a £1.1bn investment in London Stansted Airport announced at the International Investment Summit in London.
So, while the pandemic days of grounded flights may feel like a long time ago, the appreciation of being able to stay connected no matter where we may be has certainly remained.
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Even before the pandemic, travellers were becoming more familiar with using digital boarding passes, checking emails, or posting on social media to mark their travels. Those habits have been supercharged by how our lives changed during the pandemic.
QR code menus, accessing shared business documents in the cloud, and sharing video and voice content on communications apps are increasingly common. It’s all been turned up to 11. Airports are becoming busier and more complex, meaning Wi-Fi networks can become overloaded and fail to meet the diverse connectivity needs of travellers, staff, and retailers.
This means the demand for robust and assured mobile connectivity in these environments is more pressing than ever.
The airport as a destination
Gone are the days when airports were merely a means to an end. Today, they’re integral parts of the travel experience.
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By GlobalDataWhen you go into a lounge or a restaurant, you will now often see spaces that are specifically designed to be Instagram-friendly; aesthetically pleasing spots to pose to take your pics, then immediately flood your social media with them. Airports have become buzzing hubs of activity, with retailers, restaurants, and services competing for travellers’ attention and revenues.
Increasingly, people shop online at duty-free online before they even arrive at an airport, pull up their order on their mobile and get their items directly from the check-out. Passengers want to take advantage of mobile-based loyalty schemes in duty-free shops but risk not being able to access them if there’s a lack of signal.
If a bank’s security processes mean they need multi-factor authentication before a sale is approved, then that notification needs to be able to get through to the passenger looking to make the purchase. Without reliable mobile connectivity, businesses risk missing opportunities and leaving customers frustrated.
Operational efficiency in a complex environment
The sheer size and complexity of modern airports means that ensuring staff can communicate and respond to issues quickly is essential.
Behind the scenes, airports are highly industrialised areas with potential safety risks for workers. For some engineers and delivery people, a mobile signal to alert others is an absolute necessity and often a regulatory requirement.
Whether it’s coordinating ground staff, ensuring passenger safety, or managing the flow of operations, mobile connectivity plays a pivotal role in keeping everything running smoothly.
For instance, staff can use mobile devices to access real-time information, communicate across departments, or manage logistics such as baggage handling and aircraft maintenance. In large terminals with complex layouts, this connectivity becomes a vital tool for operational excellence.
Tailored connectivity solutions for every airport
Airports come in all shapes and sizes, and so do their connectivity needs. For smaller airports, deploying small cell technology is an efficient and cost-effective way to boost coverage. The latest innovation in small cell technology, Omni Network, delivers coverage from all four UK mobile operators – Vodafone, EE, Three, and Virgin Media O2 – combined in a single box.
This makes it an ideal solution for airports looking to provide robust, reliable connectivity while minimising equipment and installation requirements. It also connects via agreed operator technical specifications, which allows additional network statistics and visibility of what’s happening on the dedicated mobile network to be supplied by the in-building system provider.
In larger, more complex airports with multiple terminal buildings and floors, a distributed antenna system (DAS) is the go-to solution. A DAS ensures that there is quality coverage throughout the entire space, eliminating the dreaded “not-spots” where the mobile signal drops off.
By using a network of discreet antennas, a DAS provides uniform coverage, keeping passengers connected whether they’re grabbing a coffee in the main concourse or waiting in a secluded lounge area.
For airport operations, a private network offers a dedicated, low-latency service that can be reserved for specific functions and provides connectivity for thousands of devices. Access is SIM-based, and offers the same reliability and security as public mobile networks, but reserved just for specific organisations.
This makes them ideal for mission-critical functions such as ground operations as well as for optimising processes such as cargo handling.
The bottom line
As airports ensure they are fit for the future, investing in mobile connectivity isn’t just about keeping up with passenger expectations. It will ensure they remain competitive, efficient, and ready to seize the commercial opportunities that a fully connected environment can offer.
Whether it’s enhancing the passenger experience, supporting businesses, or streamlining operations, mobile connectivity is indispensable in a modern airport.
For airport operators, the message is clear: now is the time to ensure that every inch of the airport is covered with reliable, high-quality mobile connectivity. After all, in a world where we expect to be connected 24/7, airports can’t afford to leave anyone offline.
