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Case studies • •

Author: adele.mitchell

Reliable 21CN connectivity delivered to Sumburgh Airport in the Shetland Islands for NATS

NATS, the UK’s leading provider of air traffic control services, required a new 21CN connection to support operations at Sumburgh Airport. TXO extended NATS’ existing Shetland microwave network with a new point-to-point link, overcoming OFCOM licensing delays and coordination challenges to deliver resilient, high-capacity connectivity in one of the UK’s most remote regions.

Challenge

With the imminent expiry of legacy BT circuits, a new 21CN circuit was required to maintain connectivity to Sumburgh Airport. The project presented several key challenges:

  • Delivering a reliable, high-capacity connection in a remote and complex geographical area (Shetland Islands, UK)
  • Designing and implementing a new final-hop microwave link between Fitful Head and Sumburgh Airport
  • Managing dependencies on external stakeholders, including BT and OFCOM
  • Navigating delays in OFCOM licensing approvals
  • Coordinating tightly constrained engineering and 3rd party schedules to deliver project on time and within budget

Solution

To address these challenges, TXO leveraged its own existing microwave network, already supporting NATS EDWAN circuits across the Shetlands to deliver a comprehensive solution that included:

  • Designing, procuring, installing, and commissioning a new point-to-point microwave link at both Fitful Head and Sumburgh Airport.
  • Close collaboration with BT to align engineering activities, particularly at the Point of Entry (PoE) in the Lerwick exchange
  • Proactive engagement with OFCOM to accelerate licensing approval by providing documentation, clarifying requirements, and maintaining consistent follow-up
  • Careful synchronisation of installation schedules to ensure seamless integration between microwave infrastructure and BT exchange works

Result

  • Successful commissioning of the new 21CN circuit
  • Reliable, high-performance connectivity delivered between both Fitful Head and Sumburgh Airport
  • Minimal disruption and no significant project delays despite external constraints
  • Strengthened collaboration between TXO and NATS

Conclusion

This project demonstrates TXO’s ability to deliver complex telecommunications solutions in challenging environments. Through effective communication, proactive problem-solving, and strong stakeholder coordination, TXO successfully overcame licensing and scheduling challenges.

The outcome highlights TXO’s expertise in managing multi-party engineering projects while maintaining high standards of delivery and collaboration, ensuring successful results for all stakeholders involved.