Long-Standing Partnership Delivers Technology for Bermuda’s New Airport
Download PDFIn 2017, a government-commissioned study found that the existing L.F. Wade International Airport in Bermuda had reached the end of its useful life. In response, a public-private partnership agreement was formed between the Government of Bermuda, the Government of Canada and major construction contractor, Aecon, to build a new passenger terminal building, carrying an estimated cost of $267 million. The new terminal development was scheduled for completion in Summer 2020, but due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it officially opened in December 2020. The new 288,000 square foot airport provides improved passenger processing, increased passenger capacity, greater resilience to extreme weather conditions, better energy efficiency, improved security, and enhanced passenger amenities.
A key aspect of the new airport is its high-performance network cabling systems that support advanced voice and data applications, as well as enhanced security. The technology includes state of-the-art video surveillance, access control and new preclearance technology that uses facial biometrics to automate document checks. These systems improve traveler security and provide a touchless experience to streamline international arrivals and improve safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic. These measures are critical to maintaining Bermuda’s economy, which is overwhelmingly dependent on international business and tourism. Ensuring the most reliable and sophisticated technology for the new airport required a combination of the highest performing products and a highly knowledgeable team of engineers, project managers and technicians—all made possible through the long-standing partnership between SwitchWorx and Siemon.
As Bermuda’s dominant provider of structured cabling solutions, SwitchWorx’s success relies heavily on their expertise and quality Siemon end-to-end copper and fiber network cabling systems. Switchworx has been a longstanding technology leader designing and deploying high-performance Siemon solutions in facilities throughout Bermuda for more than 20 years.
For the new L.F. Wade International Airport project, SwitchWorx deployed a Siemon XGLO fiber optic cabling system for the backbone infrastructure and a Siemon Z-MAX Category 6A cabling system for the horizontal infrastructure connecting end devices such as WAPs, surveillance cameras and access control devices. Siemon’s Z-MAX cabling system features the highest performance margins across all critical transmission parameters, as well as a fast, easy termination process that eliminates errors and variability that can degrade performance. This is especially vital for mission-critical airport infrastructures that require guaranteed availability, reliability and resilience. From essential security information at checkpoints, to air traffic control, airport communications cannot withstand failures as they can lead to catastrophic interruption of operations, placing staff and the public at risk.
In addition to the quality of the Siemon infrastructure, SwitchWorx attributes much of their success on the island to the long-standing relationship with Siemon. “Years ago, we identified that Bermuda is too small of a country for us to deal with multiple vendors, and when you find a solid, high-performance product with an excellent reputation that is backed by superior customer service, commitment to quality and a comprehensive warranty, you stick with it,” says Andre Lemaire, director and general manager of SwitchWorx. “Having a good relationship with one excellent manufacturer that can provide everything we need to deploy quality network infrastructures is a key part of our success. Leading with Siemon certainly helped us to close the deal on the new airport.”
Considering that Bermuda is now ahead of the United States, Britain, Canada and all but one of the Caribbean nations for broadband speed and enjoys an ever-growing insurance market as the largest supplier of catastrophe reinsurance to the U.S., as well as ongoing resort renovation that includes four future integrated resort casinos, SwitchWorx is well positioned for success. Looking toward the future, the company is confident that the Siemon relationship and product quality in conjunction with their commitment to training and development will maintain SwitchWorx’s position as the leading provider of innovative information and communications technology on the island.
“It’s a small microclimate here in Bermuda, and we’ve been successful in building relationships due to our commitment to quality, training and development,” says Lorriann Lemaire, office and business development manager for SwitchWorx. “Industry knowledge and confidence set us apart, and our technicians are all BICSI certified technicians and Siemon certified.
Products
“When you find a solid, high-performance product with an excellent reputation that is backed by superior customer service, commitment to quality and a comprehensive warranty, you stick with it.
