TETRA  |  2018-03-02

Powertrunk Provides TETRA Network for Newark Liberty International Airport

Source: The Critical Communications Review | Gert Jan Wolf editor

PowerTrunk announces that it has provided a new Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) system at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in collaboration with Rockwell Collins.

This is now the fourth TETRA project that has been awarded to PowerTrunk by Rockwell Collins as part of a program to upgrade its ARINC GLOBALinkSM network in use at several airport locations across the country. In addition to Newark, the other US airports utilizing the PowerTrunk TETRA networks owned and operated by Rockwell Collins are Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), and New York John F. Kennedy (JFK).

TETRA is an open-standard digital radio communications technology that offers fast and secure communication with a wide range of telephone-like voice services, as well as unique data features that can be used to more effectively manage and co-ordinate operational tasks among diverse working groups. Other key advantages include superior voice clarity for communication, improved radio frequency spectrum efficiency, and the ability to support multiple simultaneous conversations, including simultaneous voice and data in the same call.

The TETRA network is employed for mission critical airline and aviation ground-based communication and enhances operations and services for airline ramp area personnel, passenger services, ground handlers, terminal security teams, and other ground staff working at the airport. TETRA’s outstanding background noise cancellation capabilities furthermore makes it unique for use in noisy environments such as airports.

The Newark Liberty TETRA system additionally has direct connectivity into the near-by JFK airport network, located only about 35 miles away, thereby facilitating communication and coordination between users at each airport when necessary.

“We are once again very pleased to work with Rockwell Collins in upgrading their airport land mobile radio systems with TETRA technology,” said Jose Martin, CEO of PowerTrunk. “This latest implementation also further reinforces our presence in the New Jersey and New York area, where we are already providing TETRA coverage for thousands of other users, such as for the New Jersey Transit state-wide TETRA network through Nokia Solutions and Networks as the prime contractor, and for the MTA/NYCT bus radio network project underway for New York City through Parsons Transportation Group.”