Virgin’s wireless systems take flight

Wireless coverage meets strict airport rules at Heathrow

Virgin Atlantic has implemented wireless systems to meet its own business needs and offer wireless internet services to passengers at its clubhouse at Heathrow Terminal 3.

The airline was forced to adopt an innovative approach to meet strict rules to prevent its wireless installations interfering with operational systems at the airport.

‘Our aim is to provide the best comfort and facilities for our passengers and meet the strict standards of Heathrow,’ said senior design manager Hilary Clark.

Because of the ubiquity of radio waves, even those in different frequency bands can interfere with each other, playing havoc with electronic check-in desks and shop tills.

Red-M Group was selected to design the system for Virgin Atlantic’s on-site needs and for Upper Class passengers.

It designed a system that contained the wireless activity to within the clubhouse but provided wireless coverage over the entire 2,250 square metres.

Red-M has also designed an innovative grid of more than 1,000 metres of ‘leaky feeder’ to create an evenly distributed signal connected to access points located in accessible rooms at either end of the lounge.

This was because the unusual fibreglass reinforced ceiling in the clubhouse prevented the installation of unobtrusive wireless access points in the ceiling. Virgin Atlantic demanded that no access points be visible to interfere with the design.

Leakage of the signal has been kept within BAA’s requirements by carefully adjusting the power levels to each section of ‘leaky feeder’ to suit the local environment.

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Further reading

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