Aviation technology company SITA has announced a new partnership with the Italian flag carrier ITA Airways to “transform” the airline’s global network infrastructure.
The partnership will include the migration from the airline’s multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) network to SITA’s recently launched Connect Go SASE platform.
SITA will supply a “future proof” software defined networking (SDN) and secure service edge (SSE) solution.
Sergio Colella, president, of SITA Europe, said: “There is a clear need in the market for more efficient and cost-effective solutions that help overcome the constraints of legacy wide-area network (WAN) networks.
“This new partnership with ITA Airways showcases both its commitment to optimise its network operations and our ability to adapt to the evolving demands across the sector.
“We continue to work towards creating future-proof solutions that support the ongoing digital transformation of the air transport industry.”
SITA’s Connect Go platform is an integrated networking and security solution designed specifically for the air transport industry.
It aims to help the industry transform its network capabilities to meet evolving bandwidth, resilience, security and automation needs.
According to SITA, ITA Airways’ network upgrade is expected to cut costs by around 20 per cent globally, while also delivering a host of new capabilities.
Francesco Presicce, chief technology officer and accountable manager at ITA Airways, said: “Since its foundation, ITA Airways, as a new agile, flexible and modern national flag airline, has always pursued the best rapidly evolving technologies available with an eye towards the future.
“This quest for technological evolution, which started with the transformation of the data centre into the cloud, takes yet another step with the transformation and migration of the entire network with the most advanced, secure and technological solutions available.
“These will not only represent a saving in terms of costs, but also the capability of embracing and managing any technologies and opportunities that will arise in the coming years such as mobility, Internet of Things and cloud computing.”
The partnership marks the first implementation of SITA Connect Go as the single solution covering the overall network requirements.
It means that, for the first time, the platform will integrate a customer’s entire network, delivering streamlined management, operations and security.
