Ericsson, Saab and Indiana’s Purdue University are partnering on the deployment of a private 5G network at Purdue University Airport in Indiana. The 5G network will serve as a “lab to life” proving ground for academics, researchers and business to develop commercial solutions to improve operations and security at airports of all sizes. The network will be donated by Ericsson and operated by the Purdue Research Foundation.
Purdue University Airport (LAF) is Purdue University’s public-use airport, which is located in the southwest portion of the West Lafayette campus. It conducts over 125,000 aircraft operations annually, making it Indiana’s second-busiest airport.
Saab will invest in this project by installing Aerobahn™, a platform that unlocks airport efficiency for airlines and ramp management. The company will also install SAFE Event Management platforms, a security platform used in airport operation centers. Additionally, ADS-B sensors will be deployed to track aircraft.
“These investments will improve landside operational safety and efficiency, as well as improve airside security,” said Purdue President Mung Chiang. “Purdue University is the perfect location for this project to innovate airport management. Purdue University Airport is one of a few airports operated at a research university in the U.S.” Purdue will also provide use of its the lab-to-life testbed established throughout Discovery Park District at Purdue, a 400-acre, mixed-use development adjacent to the university’s campus.
“The network is intended to showcase how airport systems can work with 5G technology,” according to Erik Smith, president and CEO of Saab in the U.S. “By combining airside and landside operations to improve airport efficiency and planning, the platform at Purdue will help us continue that journey,” Smith said.
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