Keeping up the operations of the airport flawlessly with virtually zero downtime when so many critical systems depend on it is tough, especially with an old-school conventional network architecture. If you are responsible for airport operations, you’ll exactly know the pains of it.

BIAL - Bangalore International Airport Limited - Faced Similar Pains.

Kempe Gowda International Airport in Bengaluru is the third largest airport in India. With an annual traffic of around 32 million passengers, it is also one of the busiest and fastest-growing airports. It won the Best Regional Airport in India & Central Asia at the World Airport Awards 2020 for the third time.

BIAL, committed to providing world-class service to the passengers, felt the need to upgrade its infrastructure. So, they planned on building the new T2 terminal. It would increase the passenger handling capacity to 60 million. The authorities already knew the shortcomings of the T1 terminal. So, they had clear goals for the T2 terminal.

They partnered with Netcon for their network design, infrastructure, and deployment needs.

The Goals Set by BIAL

1. Migrating the existing communication network at the T1 terminal to a Software-Defined Network Architecture

2. Design and implement a future-proof, state-of-the-art integrated IT and network Infrastructure for T2 terminal

3. Integrated network security for the T2 terminal

4. Prioritise visibility and ease of management

5. Scalable and flexible network to adhere to the needs of the airport systems

On top of these, they were looking for a future-ready, multi-tenant network that could support the latest and upcoming tech - contactless check-in, biometric check-in, IoT systems, and so on - to enhance the passenger experience and provide them with a seamless journey through the airport.

What are your network goals? We can help you achieve them.

Why the Traditional Network Couldn’t Keep Up

Traditional networks at BIAL with hierarchical design needed manual configuration and physical routers and switches, which are often proprietary. These networks were isolated and static - every system ran on its separate network and needed manual intervention to make changes. Also, they cannot be optimized based on the traffic and system requirements.

All the different layers of the network hierarchy, manual fettling to configure, maintain, and troubleshoot, and the complexity of isolated networks meant they were not flexible, scalable, and transparent. The quality of service(QoS) went down. The performance and security also took a hit. All these meant BIAL faced downtime quite often. And it affected their operations.

What is the difference between SDN architecture and conventional architecture?

SDN (Software-Defined Networking) architecture differs from conventional network architecture in its approach to network control and management. SDN centralizes network control, enabling dynamic, programmable, and automated network management through a centralized controller. This flexibility makes SDN more adaptable to changing demands, improving scalability, agility, and ease of network management while simplifying the deployment of advanced network services and applications.

With that said, let us look at how we solved these pains for them.

T1 Terminal - Migrating from Traditional Networks to Software-Defined Network Architecture

Migrating more than 50 systems seamlessly is a huge challenge.

Assessing the Needs and Designing

First, we began by analyzing the performance requirements of these several systems. Our team also pondered on understanding these systems, their peak performance demands, the bottlenecks, and other factors.

After studying all these, our network architects designed a unified software-defined network and clearly defined the network segmentation and isolation for various systems. For example, we needed to isolate the Passenger Wi-Fi network from the Airport Operations network. It is essential to do that as they both serve different purposes.

Passenger Wi-Fi needs users to authenticate to connect. It needs to be segmented and isolated using VLAN. We also need intrusion detection to prevent cybercriminals from infiltrating other crucial networks, resources, and data. On the other hand, the Operations Network needs strict role-based access controls to ensure maximum security. It also demands redundancy and failover mechanisms for virtually zero downtime.

Do you want us to assess and audit your existing network infrastructure? Reach out to us here.

Why access control is required?

Access control is essential at airports for safety and security. It prevents unauthorized access to sensitive areas, enhances terrorism prevention, and ensures compliance with aviation regulations. It safeguards passengers, staff, and resources, helping deter theft and providing control during emergencies while maintaining data center security.

Identifying the Right Hardware and Software for the Network

A network overhaul demands a lot of components - both hardware and software. Narrowing down on the right ones that suited our application for BIAL was a tedious process. We wanted their investment to stand the test of time while providing maximum return.

On the hardware side, we finalized SDN-compatible switches, routers, and controllers. We decided on the SDN controller that aligned with our architecture. We also included the SDN applications that help monitor and manage traffic, security, QoS, and other parameters.

Migration Phase

We took a phased migration approach, migrating segments of the network incrementally. First, we deployed the network segmentation and isolation. We then isolated network segments and gradually migrated each of them to the SDN network. We then installed the SDN controller and configured it with network policies, traffic flow, and routing. Our team finally integrated the data center with the network.

Security was non-negotiable, and we ensured BIAL complied with the security standards by installing firewalls, intrusion prevention/detection systems, role-based access control, and endpoint security. We tested the network and optimized it by analyzing the performance and requirements.

To enable visibility and management of the network, our team installed management and visibility tools to monitor the performance, utilization, and potential issues. It would throw alerts when it detects any anomalies. We also deployed robust disaster recovery redundancy and failover mechanisms to ensure maximum uptime.

This way, our team successfully migrated the entire T1 terminal network and all its systems onto the new SDN network.

T2 Terminal - Designing and Implementing a Robust and Reliable Software-Defined Communication Network From Scratch

BIAL wanted the new terminal to be an experience like no other for the passengers in every aspect. They went to great lengths to perfect the architecture and interior of that terminal.

Designed Considering the T2 Terminal Demands

We went through all the exercises that we did to design the software-defined network architecture for the T1 terminal. But the ceiling of performance that it allowed was higher. It had to be state-of-the-art infrastructure, especially with the increased projected passenger traffic.

BIAL wanted to implement IoT systems that would help them be greener, more efficient, and sustainable - smart irrigation and water management, cooling systems and air purification, intelligent lighting, and so on. We designed the network architecture considering all these systems and their performance demands.

We recently implemented an advanced IoT-based irrigation and water management system at the T2 terminal for BIAL. You can read more about it here.

The steps involved in deploying the T2 terminal network were similar to that of the T1 terminal. We didn’t have to migrate the old network to the new one. Instead, we set it up from scratch, integrating the different systems incrementally with the network, albeit with careful planning and execution.

How Did It Benefit BIAL?

An innovative, multi-tenant, and integrated network architecture for both terminals at BIAL operates seamlessly despite increasing traffic and a plethora of systems running off of it.

High Availability and Agility

With improved traffic management and dynamic allocation of resources, the network never faces bottlenecks. It improves reliability, agility, and optimized traffic flow for critical airport systems like flight scheduling or baggage handling.

Quality of Service

The network can prioritize bandwidth allocation for the passenger Wi-Fi service without affecting the other airport systems. The self-service portals for check-in and baggage tags provide a smooth check-in process.

We also installed a unique Passenger Wi-Fi Onboarding solution at BIAL. Click to know more.

Streamlined Airport Retail

Point of Sale (POS) systems benefitted from improved network connectivity, leading to faster and more reliable transactions at airport shops and restaurants.

Centralized Security

Access control systems at BIAL are centrally managed and updated, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access secure areas and access privileges can be revoked in real-time. With Intrusion detection systems (IDS), authorities can analyze network traffic and rapidly identify anomalies, allowing security personnel to respond to potential threats promptly.

Reduced Downtime With Disaster Recovery and Redundancy

Maintenance systems schedule updates and repairs during non-peak hours to minimize disruptions to airport operations. And with disaster recovery and redundancy mechanisms in place, the airport hardly faces any downtime.

Efficiency, Scalability and Flexibility

With lowered downtime and optimized energy usage, the airport has reduced utility costs and minimized the environmental impact of its operations. As the airport expands and introduces new subsystems or services, the SDN ensures scalability and flexibility as it can easily scale to accommodate additional devices and traffic.

Netcon did a commendable job, kudos to the ground level team, they have been stretching hard to complete the project on time and have always been proactive! - Brian Paul Roche, Vice President - IT, Projects

BIAL Operations Have Never Been Smoother

It was a complex project, with 50,000+ IP endpoints spread across 50+ airport subsystems. We executed it with meticulous attention to detail, planning, and close coordination with all the stakeholders. Our team and its technical expertise in IT/OT and know-how of airport operations was a key factor in the success of this project.

31.97 million passengers went through the gates of BIAL with zero hiccups during 2022-23. And that is a testament to how well it all works together.

When we asked Mr. Nedunchezhiyan, General Manager of IT projects, about the Terminal 2 design and concept, he said, “We have addressed the constraints of the Terminal 1 engineering and aesthetic look and feel, with a future-proof, airport-inside-a-garden concept, with a natural feel-good infrastructure, having a garden pavilion with energy conserving superior design.”

Netcon takes great pride in achieving what it has achieved for BIAL. And we continue to be their IT partner. More details to follow soon.

Keen on how we can help you turn around your airport IT infrastructure? Let us connect.