A wireless network with zero downtime? For a network made up ancient LAN switches, a few isolated access points and a single gigabit Ethernet uplink, that's a lofty goal. Now imagine that this network is in an airport. Forget lofty goal, you're talking Mission: Impossible.

But for Romania's National Company Bucharest Airports (CNAB), the reality was they desperately needed to upgrade its network. And fast. Not only did the airport have to upgrade, but it had to make sure that the merger of two companies that managed the airport, Henri Coanda and Baneasa Aurel Vlaicu, were included in this project too. To add another level of difficulty, CNAB is staffed by 1300 employees and is responsible for 70% of all Romanian air traffic.

This project had the potential for turbulence.

The airport turned to Cisco, who had a great solution in mind. The most important piece to this updating puzzle is the modernization of the infrastructure. Using products such as the Cisco Aironet 1140 and 3500 Series Access Points in conjunction with Cisco Catalyst 2960, 3750, 4500 and 6500 Series Switches, Cisco laid down the proper building blocks.

This created a network where real-time information began to flow around the airport improving all forms of day-to-day operations. Whether it's customer check-ins or making a purchase at one of the airport kiosks, the experience is now user-friendly, and most importantly, secure.

Now the airport is seeing nothing but blue skies!

"We have achieved a ten-fold increase in data transfer speeds compared to the previous network," said Vasile Darla, CNAB's CIO. "Crucial information and communications are more widely available and easier to access. Staff productivity improved from the moment the Cisco solution went live."

Not only that but now that the IT department is no longer fighting infrastructure fires, they have the ability to focus on delivering new service innovations.

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