MANAGEMENT
order. The customers state that it was more
than technology leadership that made the
difference in awarding the tender to Rohde
& Schwarz. It was our customer oriented
approach summed up in the phrase
“everything from a single source.”
What is one of your main products?
That would be our R&S VCS-4G full IP VCS
solution, contracted for more than 280
systems in over 59 countries worldwide,
including airports/towers, Area Control
Centers (ACC), virtual centers, remote
towers, offshore drilling sites, mobile towers,
and shelters. As the R&S VCS-4G technology
implements the ED-137 standard to the core
of the system and not just to periphery
components, it is the world’s first and most
widely deployed full IP VCS system. In the
example above about Iceland and Ireland,
R&S VCS-4G enables resource sharing and
virtual ATC center operation, allowing
operation of both voice communications
systems either independently in standalone
mode or in joint-operation mode.
R&S VCS-4G is a flexible and
cost-effective solution for all ATC voice
communications needs, meeting
established requirements for availability,
reliability and safety in ATC as well as the
growing need for dynamic ATC scenarios
with network based sharing and distribution
of operational resources.
What will Rohde & Schwarz focus
on to improve safety and security
further in the coming years?
Absolute availability of communication
systems is paramount for air navigation
service providers, ATC agencies and airport
operators. Rohde & Schwarz supplies
innovative solutions for a wide range of
applications in the aerospace sector. We have
built a strong reputation in this safety-critical
sector based on the outstanding quality and
performance of its solutions – a key factor
today as air traffic density continues to
steadily increase.
We will also focus on quad-redundant
systems, meaning if one part of the system
84 AIR TRAFFIC TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL 2020
fails, another part automatically takes over,
again prioritizing absolute safety and security
for our customers. Even if many parts fail no
interruption in operation will occur.
As modern IP technology is increasingly
used in ATC applications, the cyber threat
remains an all-encompassing challenge.
Rohde & Schwarz continues to reliably and
proactively protect air traffic networks
against cybersecurity threats. We are
analyzing cybersecurity measures and best
practices to improve airport cyber resilience,
in order to present advanced ATC solutions
with the aim to address existing
vulnerabilities and dependencies.
Rohde & Schwarz takes turnkey
responsibility and is a one-stop-shop for
customers who want one supplier to talk to.
Longevity is a fundamental quality feature of
Rohde & Schwarz. However, the high pace of
innovation in modern communications
technology means that products have to be
regularly updated and adapted to new
technological developments. We support
customers by offering comprehensive
services throughout all phases of the
product lifecycle.
How does Rohde & Schwarz continue
to deliver long-lasting, high-quality
products, focusing on developing
future-proof technologies?
We work very closely to the customer in
order to regularly reflect innovations and to
have our R&D teams focused on the
customer’s needs.
By participating in several working
groups, we are set to implement future
standards. We also encourage an intense
collaboration with ANSPs, as to tap on
additional R&D knowledge and architecture
to deliver the most modern and most secure
and reliable products on the market.
The Rohde & Schwarz team provides
onsite assessments and concept development.
Engineers provide detailed system design of
the radios, antennae, RF cabling and
electricity as well as data networks. For longlasting,
error-free operation, we offer
professional onsite installation following its
own strong quality requirements. During
system operation, we act as single point of
accountability for the business and technical
elements of the in-service support program.
What can we expect to
see in the next year?
Keep an eye out for the World ATM
Congress in Madrid in 2020, where Rohde &
Schwarz is exhibiting. We will have some
very attractive news for you. v
Left: The R&S VCS-4G has
been designed especially for
civil ATC deployment and
enables full-featured radio
communications between
controllers and pilots,
including specific radio
remote control operations
Below: For communications
systems, IP is the industry
leading technology bringing
new dimensions of reliability,
security and flexibility – the
proven strong encryption
mechanisms bring real
cryptographic security into
ATC communications