Contact us  |  Wed 08 October 2008Last updated: 10:56

Shareholder servicesBT.com

BT Today
Openreach

BT Logo

Home > News Extra> Openreach

Team keeps airshow airbourne

When communications for Farnborough Airshow looked like they might not get off the ground, a team from Openreach ensured they were cleared for take-off.  

The organisers chose to switch to a wi-fi solution for this year’s show, which was provided by a new service provider.

But they soon found the system wasn’t working for the show’s most critical lines - the hotlines that provide an instant link between key locations such as the control tower and the emergency services.

On-site project leader Steve Pugh said: “These lines are the backbone of the show and without them the event wouldn’t be granted a licence.

“So the organisers asked us to help, and after a lot of work trying to make the wi-fi solution work, we advised them to revert to an analogue system for the hotlines.

“Before this year, Openreach had provided the communications for the show, so we knew exactly what was needed.”

With time running out, the Openreach team of Steve, Dave Brown and Darren Hall got the new system working and stayed on site to install back-up ISDN and ADSL lines for other providers.

Netsolve planning manager John Fisher said: “The lads deserve a lot of praise and I know the organisers were really grateful as, without their expertise and knowledge of the site, this year’s show could have been very different.”

Information provider: Group Communications

Review date: 18/09/09