Athens International Airport, breaking new ground in the IT&T sector, is the first airport to offer new advanced information services to passengers and the airport community, using a state-of-the-art triple play network, and High Definition television (HDTV) stream playback.

All members of the airport community enjoy the advantages of AIA’s state-of-the-art triple play network (data, voice, streaming video), establishing connectivity as well the exchange of information between all parties, thus creating a unified electronic business community, unique in Greece, with the highest possible added value.

In addition, Athens International Airport is the first airport internationally that has installed and operates an integrated streaming video system, using its triple play network, and today is the only spot in Greece where the public can experience HDTV in public areas (on display on a 24-hour basis, at 8 Main Terminal Building monitors). Within the framework of upgrading the airport experience, passengers can enjoy short video clips and documentaries promoting Greek tourist destinations, while receiving additional information, such as:

• Automatically updated weather reports for various destinations
• Arrivals / Departures flight information
• Advertisements
• Useful information and airport announcements for the passengers

At a later stage, Athens International Airport, using this state-of-the-art technology, aims to enrich services to its passengers by providing personalised Departures Information (specific destination info, weather reports, local news, currencies), and Arrivals Information (weather in Athens, transport information, ticket prices, etc).

* The system operation is conducted by Athens International Airport’s IT&T Unit
* The streaming video system is based on the digital platforms MEDIAstream and BIZstream of Media Communications S.A. a Greek company based in Athens (http://www.mcom.gr ).

From today's presentation at Athens International Airport’s Media Centre: From right to left, Mr. George Eleftherakos, AIA Director, Consumers Unit, Mr. Fotis Karonis, AIA Director (centre), IT&Telecommunications Unit, and on the right, Mr. George Delikouras, AIA Head, IT Architecture & Network Security.

Presentation of streaming technologies over IP networks