The Spanish Government has authorised a €42 million contract to modernise its air traffic control communications system and adapt it for data and voice transmission over IP.
The contract, which will be offered through Spanish ANSP ENAIRE will last five years including an infrastructure validation process and a phasing-in period.
Equipment will be installed at the air control centres (ACCs) in Madrid, Barcelona, the Canary Islands, Palma, Seville, and the Málaga control tower, and at ENAIRE’s Centre for Experimentation and Development in Madrid.
ENAIRE uses SACTA-iTEC 4.0 (Spanish Air Traffic Control System - Interoperability Through European Cooperation) across its ACCs and Terminal Maneuvering Areas (TMAs) for air traffic management. The automated ATC system was commissioned by Spanish company Indra in 2021.
The latest program will advance the IP digital protocol of the SACTA-iTEC to capacity and improve the resilience of the ATC communication systems, ensuring service and cybersecurity protection. It will also provide a base for future functional upgrades.
The project poses a significant technological challenge, as it requires replacing the systems that currently support operational communications without affecting the service provided.
ENDS