Tata Communications has won a multi-million dollar contract with Air France-KLM, Europe’s second largest airline, to provide next-generation network connectivity to 170 sites.
The network will form the backbone for the company as it embraces the latest mobile, cloud, big data analytics and wearable technologies to enhance and personalise passenger experience. This investment underpins the airline’s growth strategy, driven by organisation-wide digital transformation, delivery of next-generation aircraft, and expansion in emerging markets.
The multi-year contract will see Tata Communications roll out a superfast intelligent network that will power Air France-KLM’s mission-critical systems, including passenger check-in, flight operations and departure control applications, as well as corporate programmes in the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific.
“Investing in emerging markets and cutting-edge digital technologies is at the heart of our growth strategy,” says Jean-Christophe Lalanne, CIO of Air France-KLM Group. “We’re introducing a range of innovative services, such as travel apps for smartwatches, to provide a seamless, personalised travel experience for our tech-savvy passengers. Tata Communications’ global next-generation network will act as the foundation for these services in the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, empowering us take customer service to the next level and capitalise on the huge growth opportunities that these markets offer.”
Tata Communications will provide Air France-KLM with an MPLS wide area network (WAN) in the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific.
“Airlines worldwide are starting to rethink their technology infrastructure to improve the passenger experience, and integrate cloud services and new applications to support the huge amounts of data coming from next- generation aircraft. In tandem, they’re competing for their share of new revenue streams in emerging markets,” said Genius Wong, President, Global Network Services, Cloud and Data Centre Services at Tata Communications.
“Tapping into our emerging markets expertise, our advanced global network, and our points-of-presence in airports gives Air France-KLM a real competitive edge. Air France-KLM is paving the way for the transformation of the group’s mission-critical operations, ensuring a superior travel experience for passengers in the industry’s fastest growing geographies.”