French Air Navigation Service Provider, DSNA, awarded Frequentis and CS GROUP a 20-year contract to provide a main and back-up IP-based radio/telephone Voice Communication System (VCS) for 14 main air traffic control (ATC) approach and tower control centres. CS GROUP is the consortium representative for the major project and Frequentis is co-contractor.

French air traffic control to benefit from FREQUENTIS and CS GROUP voice communication systems in 20-year replacement program

DSNA provides air navigation services for nine French mainland regional and several overseas centres in charge of ATC approach and tower control. The VCS system will be deployed to 14 sites located in metropolitan France (including Bordeaux, Montpellier, Nantes, Nice, Paris Orly, Strasbourg among others) and some French oversea territories. Bordeaux will be the first centre to be equipped.

Frequentis will supply its market leading VCS3020X for the main VCS while CS GROUP will supply its innovative solution, CSoIP (Communication and Security over IP), for the back-up VCS. Both IP-based integrated secured VCS solutions are compliant with EUROCAE ED 137 standard. The main and back-up VCS will use the new full IP transmitters/receivers deployed in France. The scope of the contract includes the design, supply and maintenance, with a unique functionality that enables the controller to transparently operate the same frequencies and radio channels in main and back-up mode.

“Our relationship with CS GROUP began over 25 years ago when together we provided the ARTEMIS communication system for DSNA in five CRNAs (centres for enroute air navigation). We are proud to be able to work on such a significant and extensive project with CS GROUP and DSNA again and look forward to further supporting the safety of air traffic control in France.”, says Hannu Juurakko, Frequentis Vice President ATM Civil and Chairman of the ATM Executive Team.

The Frequentis VCS3020X is trusted and proven by more than 25,000 air traffic controllers. It allows ANSP’s to share infrastructure between area control centres and ensures all ATM relevant tower functions without any limitation on size and location.

“The full IP CSoIP solution is in operation or in deployment, for Europeans ANSPs (Air Navigation Service Providers), especially in France for area control and approach centres and Towers as well as for NATO air bases” says CS Group deputy General Manager, Marie de Saint Salvy. “This new contract highlights the relevance of our solution to answer the needs of civil air traffic control providers.”

As well as working on the ARTEMIS system since 2011, Frequentis and CS GROUP have been implementing the new generation of voice communication systems (N-VCS) for control centres within FABEC (Functional Airspace Block Europe Central). The latest project signifies the trust DSNA has in the consortium.