Houston Airports—comprising George Bush Intercontinental (IAH), William P. Hobby (HOU), and Ellington Airport/Spaceport (EFD)—is one of North America’s largest public airport systems, handling over 60 million passengers in 2023. It supports 30+ passenger airlines, contributes $36 billion+ to the local economy, and employs 190,000+ individuals.
Houston Airports needed to modernize its connectivity to meet evolving traveler expectations, including:
- High-performance, free guest Wi‑Fi
- An intuitive app for wayfinding, airport info, and services
- IoT-driven operational enhancements (e.g., smart restrooms)
- Aligning new tech with sustainability and cost-efficiency goals
Solution
MGT and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) Aruba Networking worked with the client to implement a next-gen, location-aware Wi‑Fi 6E network across IAH and HOU. The key components included:
- Wi‑Fi 6E Aruba APs and beacons for improved coverage and location telemetry
- Integration with Aruba Meridian for a wayfinding and traveler assistance mobile app
- APs functioning as IoT gateways supporting Bluetooth, Zigbee, and Wi‑Fi sensors
- Built-in power-saving to support sustainability goals
Craig Wall, GM, Western Region at MGT said, “With the skyrocketing expectation for seamless… implementing Wi‑Fi 6E just made sense… while keeping IT overhead low due to the solution’s proven reliability and ease of management.”
Why we are Better Together
After implementation, Houston Airports is now a competitive system offering best-in-class services to travelers and staff. Enhancements include:
Enhanced Traveler Experience
- Free, high-speed Wi‑Fi accessible throughout the terminals
- New mobile app features:
- Step-by-step navigation with estimated walk times
- Live parking availability and location tracking
- Security wait times, real-time flight info, retailer/restaurant maps
Smarter Operations & IoT
- Smart restroom sensors optimize maintenance scheduling via real‑time traffic data
- IoT data feeds to the mobile app to help users find available restrooms
Sustainability & Efficiency
- APs equipped with power-saving modes reduce energy consumption
- Infrastructure supports space optimization and lower operational costs
“HPE Aruba Networking has proven a responsive, reliable partner that has provided us with robust, cost-effective solutions for our wireless infrastructure,” said Darryl Daniel, CTO, Houston Airports. The airport isn’t slowing down anytime soon and has plans to expand app features like parking reservations and in-app food/service orders. The opportunities remain endless with a robust, protected technology infrastructure capable of supporting a growing organization.
By partnering with MGT and HPE Aruba Networking, Houston Airports future-proofed its connectivity, enriched passenger services, and advanced sustainability goals. This model serves as a benchmark for other public sector agencies seeking smart, energy-efficient, traveler-centric digital infrastructure.
