Laying the foundations for a modern airport experience

By Matt Walsh, Chief Customer Officer

When travellers pass through an airport, they rarely think about the invisible digital infrastructure making their journey possible. From real-time flight information and baggage tracking to seamless WiFi and security systems - all these modern conveniences depend on robust connectivity beneath the surface.

Our recent work at Western Sydney Airport is precisely this kind of foundational infrastructure. While it may never be seen by the travelling public, it will enable the countless digital touchpoints that define a modern airport experience once it is operational.

Our connectivity solution at Western Sydney Airport

Over several months, Vocus has installed two diverse fibre optic cables which will be available to businesses operating in the airport precinct, along with Federal and State government agencies, at the new Western Sydney Airport.

For those unfamiliar with telecommunications infrastructure, this represents a significant achievement that brings several important benefits:

  • Enhanced reliability through redundancy: By creating two diverse paths, it means that if one connection experiences an issue, the second path will maintain seamless service. This redundancy is critical for airport operations where downtime isn't an option.
  • Strategic node placement: We've established two diverse nodes at the airport's main equipment rooms. In simple terms, these serve as connectivity hubs that allow us to deliver diverse services to customers throughout the facility.
  • Competitive positioning: I'm proud that Vocus has become the second carrier capable of offering fully diverse services at the airport site. This positions us as a premier connectivity provider in this significant new development.

What this means for our customers

When I look at what we've accomplished at Western Sydney Airport, I see real customer value at every turn. Our customers will need connectivity they can count on, which is why I'm particularly proud of our dual-path design which will enhance their connectivity’s reliability through redundancy.

We built this infrastructure with our customers’ future in mind. As businesses grow and bandwidth needs increase, they won't need to worry about outgrowing their connectivity. We've ensured there's plenty of room to scale.

What excites me most is becoming the second carrier with this level of infrastructure at the airport site. Competition drives innovation and better pricing, and now businesses will have a genuine choice rather than being locked into a single provider.

And finally, the connectivity we're providing is the same enterprise-grade service that some of Australia's largest organisations rely on. Whether our customers are small retailers or major airlines, they’ll have access to the reliable connectivity needed to deliver exceptional experiences to their customers.

Looking ahead

This project represents more than just cables in the ground. It's about laying the digital foundation for what will become a crucial transport and economic hub for Western Sydney and beyond. The infrastructure we've established will support countless passenger journeys, business operations, and digital experiences over the coming decades.

As Western Sydney Airport continues to develop, our team remains committed to expanding our infrastructure capabilities to meet the evolving needs of this dynamic facility. We're proud to be playing a pivotal role in building critical connections and enabling better possibilities through this new gateway to Australia's digital future.

Matt Walsh, Chief Customer Officer

Matt is Vocus’ Chief Customer Officer, with responsibility for customer and fibre infrastructure delivery and assurance, and stewardship of the Workplace Health and Safety for the organisation. Matt has 20 years of experience in the Australian telecommunications industry, with a distinct focus on delivering outstanding customer experiences, disciplined operation, and a commitment to continuous improvement.