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Tata Communications, a global telecom solutions provider, has won a multi-million dollar contract from Air France-KLM, Europe's second largest airline, to provide next-generation network connectivity to 170 sites.
The network will form the backbone for the company as it embraces the latest mobile, cloud, big data analytics and wearable technologies to enhance and personalise passenger experience.
This investment underpins the airline's growth strategy, driven by organisation-wide digital transformation, delivery of next-generation aircraft, and expansion in emerging markets.
The multi-year contract will see Tata Communications roll out an intelligent network, which will power Air France-KLM's mission-critical systems, including passenger check-in, flight operations and departure control applications, as well as corporate programs in Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific.
Air France-KLM, which carried 87.4 million passengers in 2014, is the first major European airline group to move away from the legacy networks widely used in the airline industry.
The global network of Tata Communications will help Air France-KLM offer a range of digital services in regions that have been identified by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) as future growth drivers of the industry.
Currently eight of ten fastest growing airline markets are located in Africa. By 2034, IATA expects 1.3 billion passengers to touch China - up from 850 million at present - and India is set to see an additional 260 million passengers.
Europe will act as a key transfer hub to these emerging markets, with 1.4 billion passenger journeys in 2034 - nearly 600 million more than today.
