SITA, the leading provider of IT solutions to airports worldwide, is embarking on a major USD7 million project to overhaul security on the land and air sides at all seven of Egypt's airports including Terminals One and Two at Cairo International Airport.

The security systems and procedures will be to International Civil Aviation Organization standard, covering Cairo, Sharm-El-Sheikh, Hurgada, Luxor, Aswan, Borg Al-Arab and Abu Simbel which welcome over 20 million passengers each year.

This is a unique project for the region. SITA will design and implement a Video over Internet Protocol (IP-based) Closed-Circuit Television System integrated with a Security Access Control System (SACS) covering both the land and air sides for each of the seven airports. In all cases, the security system will also be integrated with the fire alarm system, the baggage x-ray machines, as well as with the SITA Airport Operational Data Base.

The seven airports will be linked to the Ministry of Civil Aviation in Cairo where a Crisis Management Room and Security Operation Room will receive alarms from the different locations and will be able to monitor any selected camera at any airport. The communication between the Ministry and the different airports will be done through a video conferencing facility provided by SITA within the scope of this project.

SITA will also be providing - In agreement with an ICAO Security Manager - a security consultancy service to the airports, aiming to review and update the security rules at each airport and build business rules for the equipment provided based on the latest ICAO recommendations.

'We have chosen SITA through a tendering process in which five other companies participated. SITA has already connected Egypt's remote airports to the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority through a Wide Area Network which will help to have an integrated system working efficiently to meet security needs,' said General Maged El-Masry, chairman of AVIT, the IT branch of the Aviation Ministry.

SITA has been present in Egypt since 1953. SITA's Regional Network Control Centre is based in Cairo and SITA is one of the largest customers of Egypt Telecom.

'We are very pleased to be involved in another exciting chapter in Egyptian aviation history. Egypt was the first country in the region twenty years to adopt Common Use Terminal Equipment which allows multiple airlines to access their own Departure Control Systems using a common platform,' said Dr. Khodr Akil, SITA Vice President and General Manager for Egypt and South Africa.

'This concern for the passenger's well being also comes through in this new project which will greatly enhance the security and safety of visitors to Egypt,' said Dr. Akil.

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