FREQUENTIS releases the network solution VCX-IP 2.0

Frequentis recently released version 2.0 of its well-established network solution VCX-IP for safety-critical IP-based (Internet Protocol) voice and data operations in the field of Air Traffic Management (ATM). VCX-IP complies with the international standard for Voice over IP (VoIP) in ATM, EUROCAE ED-137.

For over a decade Frequentis has been building ATM network solutions that support domain-specific radio capabilities. These solutions provide Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) around the world with a migration path to new technologies – for example IP backbones – by providing a gateway service from existing legacy interfaces and protocols to VoIP.

Designed for safety
Frequentis VCX-IP is designed for reliable voice & data communication in safety- and mission-critical applications and thus provides maximum availability of all hardware and software components.

One of the key features of this product is the multi-level redundancy of its equipment and network infrastructure at the operational level. For example, VCX-IP network services enable up to six centres to simultaneously access shared resources, such as radio and radar equipment.

Tailored to Air Traffic Management
The experience gained from numerous country-wide ATM network-based projects and dozens of radio-networking projects, in the civil aviation and defence markets, has shaped the design of Frequentis VCX-IP 2.0.

It is not only a radio communication gateway, but also provides integrated radio, phone and data capabilities specific to the needs of ATM – such as phone trunking and radio coverage groups with dynamic delay compensation. A special focus of release 2.0 is the full integration of safety-critical operational data services: VCX-IP integrates RRC (radio remote control) capabilities as well as RS232, RS422, X.21 and V.35 data applications.

Investment Protection
This Frequentis network solution guarantees that the most commonly used legacy interfaces and protocols, such as, LB, MFC, and ATS-QSIG are provided with a gateway to the EUROCAE ED-137 VoIP standard for Air Traffic Management.

This allows a step-wise migration from existing legacy Air Traffic Control systems to IP-based systems, thus avoiding the need to replace all the equipment at once. Use of the supported G.729 voice compression lowers the bandwidth requirements of the voice channels by a factor of eight, thus reducing operational costs. VCX-IP also helps to save physical installation space by accommodating up to 12 radio interfaces on a single 1HU (one height-unit) shelf.