A Guidebook for Mitigating Disruptive WiFi Interference at Airports

TRB’s Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Report 127: A Guidebook for Mitigating Disruptive WiFi Interference at Airports describes the WiFi interference problems at airports and offers potential solutions to mitigate disruptions. Interference is addressed in the context of the business and regulatory structure within which airports operate.

The guidebook is designed to provide practical assistance for improving WiFi performance by enhancing the ability of airport authorities to identify when radio frequency interference is occurring and then how to eliminate, reduce, or at least minimize its impact.

The guidebook addresses following:

• Quantification of the extent and magnitude of the interference problems;

• Best technical and business practices to provide accessible, secure service with adaptable bandwidth to meet the needs of all stakeholders;

• Communication and collaboration efforts among parties to maximize the benefits of a cooperative approach;

• Reference designs that are adaptable to different airport environments (i.e., small, medium, large, dominant carrier, no dominant carrier, and other tenant mix), including security requirements for all stakeholders;

• Techniques for identifying and resolving interference issues outside reference designs;

• Strategic vision that addresses potential impacts due to increasing demand, rapidly evolving technologies, and new uses (e.g., 802.11 ac, HD video, 4G backhaul); and

• Total cost of ownership and return on investment, including intangibles.