The UAE's airline Emirates has chosen SITA, an international provider of integrated Information Technology (IT) and telecommunications services for the air transport industry, to create a private network for communications across the company in a multi-million dollar five-year deal.
The new Internet Protocol (IP) network will link all Emirates' bases via SITA's Intranet Connect Service, a global end-to-end managed, secure private IP communications environment
In phase one, Emirates' Dubai base and key regional centers in Singapore, London and New York will be connected together, followed by 130 other sites in airports, cities and elsewhere. The project will be completed by the end of this year.
“We recognized that out-sourcing our IP-enabled global network to a single supplier was the right move. It will allow our IT people to concentrate on further developing Business Solutions,” Hugh Pride, IT director for the Emirates Group, said.
Intranet Connect offers a single IP solution in 130-plus countries, using one global IP network and providing coverage and support for all aspects of worldwide airline operations. SITA has around 740 members and 1,800 customers including airlines, airports, travel distribution and computer reservation systems, governmental organizations, aerospace and airfreight companies. SITA recorded corporate revenues of over $1.57 billion in 2000.
Emirates, the Dubai-based international airline, started services in 1985 and has since expanded all over the world. It has one of the world's youngest aircraft fleets, with an average age of only 37 months. Currently it has 39 aircraft serving 58 cities in 41 countries, with 32 more new aircraft on order. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
