As Newcastle Airport prepared for the opening of its new international terminal, the organisation needed a modern network infrastructure capable of supporting increasing passenger volumes, complex operational systems and future growth. Working alongside Atturra and HPE the airport implemented a high-performance, scalable network designed to provide the visibility, resilience and security required for a modern airport environment. The result is a future-ready platform supporting seamless passenger experiences, operational efficiency and the airport’s long-term expansion strategy.
Fast Facts
- Designed to support airlines, passenger systems, security agencies and terminal operations
- Built using HPE networking technology, including Aruba Central Cloud Management
- Delivered on schedule to meet the terminal opening deadline
- Improved network visibility and operational management through a single pane of glass experience
- Supports seamless passenger Wi-Fi connectivity across the airport journey, including accessibility services for passengers with hearing disabilities
- Implemented with scalability in mind to support future airport growth
Business Opportunity
The opening of Newcastle Airport’s new international terminal represented the largest expansion project in the airport’s history and a major milestone for the Hunter region. With passenger numbers expected to grow from 1.3 million annually towards almost 2 million by 2030, the airport required infrastructure capable of supporting increasing operational demands while maintaining a high-quality passenger experience.
The existing domestic terminal environment consisted of a mix of vendors, generations of switching infrastructure and legacy systems, making the new terminal a near greenfield opportunity for the airport’s IT team. The network needed to support a broad range of critical services including passenger Wi-Fi, airline operations, flight information systems, public announcements, security and border control systems, retail operations and building management systems.
The airport also faced strict project deadlines tied directly to the terminal construction schedule. Any delay to the network deployment risked impacting terminal readiness and operational launch. In addition, the airport required a solution that could provide stronger visibility, simplified management and scalability for future expansion, while being manageable by a relatively small internal IT team.
Solution
Atturra partnered closely with Newcastle Airport and HPE Networking to design and implement a modern networking solution tailored to the airport’s operational environment and future growth plans. Extensive workshops, planning sessions and proof-of-concept testing helped validate the solution design and ensure the technology aligned with the airport’s operational and performance requirements before deployment commenced.
Built on HPE networking technology, the solution delivered high-performance connectivity, improved visibility and centralised management across the airport network. Aruba Central provided the airport’s IT team with a single pane of glass view across wired and wireless infrastructure, enabling real-time monitoring, simplified troubleshooting and proactive network management.
Given the complexity of the airport environment, the solution design also accounted for high ceilings, operational constraints and industrial environments not suited to traditional networking equipment. HPE industrial switching technology was deployed in challenging locations to maintain reliability and consistent visibility across the entire network environment.
To ensure the project remained aligned with construction timelines, Atturra and HPE coordinated equipment delivery in staged phases, separating core and edge infrastructure deployment. This approach helped ensure the airport could complete the terminal build and network implementation without delays, while maintaining flexibility to adapt to evolving infrastructure requirements throughout the project.
Outcomes Delivered
The completed solution has provided Newcastle Airport with a secure, scalable and future-ready network platform capable of supporting both day one international operations and future expansion. The airport now benefits from improved visibility and centralised management across the network, enabling the IT team to proactively identify and resolve issues while reducing operational complexity.
The new network also enhances the passenger experience by supporting seamless connectivity throughout the airport journey, including accessibility outcomes for passengers who rely on public announcement notifications delivered through connected devices and hearing assistance technology.
Importantly, the infrastructure was designed with long-term scalability in mind, allowing Newcastle Airport to expand its network footprint and introduce future capabilities without requiring a complete redesign. Delivered on schedule and aligned to the terminal opening deadline, the project has established a strong digital foundation for the airport’s continued growth and future innovation.
Technologies
- HPE Aruba CX switches
- Aruba Central Cloud Management
- Aruba Access Points
- Aruba Outdoor Access Points
