Cisco Systems Signs Airport Technology Deal with GACA
February 4, 2012 – Cisco Systems (Cisco) has signed a deal with the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to develop advanced information-technology infrastructure in the Kingdom’s airports. Cisco has begun work at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. The Smart Airports master plan is designed to help these airports become more efficient and profitable by building an airport infrastructure around a single IP platform that enables high-speed broadband traffic throughout the entire system, connecting airports, cities, airlines, seaports, logistics operators, authorities, and other stakeholders. Over the next several years, Cisco hopes to implement similar systems at 26 of the Kingdom’s airports, facilitating GACA’s long-term goal for the civil aviation sector to contribute more than $6.67 billion (SR25 billion) per year to the national economy by 2020.