Bangladesh-based Biman Airlines (BG) has signed up with IT provider Sitato adopt a suite of  connectivity solutions in order to increase network speeds, optimise the airline’s operations, and reduce expansion costs.

The airline will implement a new secure SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) product designed for the air transport industry. The solution was developed in partnership with Versa Networks, a secure access service edge (SASE) provider. Sita will also increase BGs network bandwidth by up to 600%

Once deployed, the software should improve the airline’s performance by giving the IT operations team an insight into their network usage and application performance. This will enable better decision-making and critical business application performance. It is all managed through a centralized platform that simplifies network management and orchestration.

The deal comes as Sita and BG celebrate 50 years of partnership and will future-proof the airline’s operations for planned growth.

Sumesh Patel, President, Asia Pacific, SITA, said: “We’re thrilled to commemorate a 50-year partnership with Biman Bangladesh Airlines Ltd. and provide the latest cutting-edge connectivity solutions that will be the foundations for their next growth chapter. Connectivity is the backbone of our industry, and smart, efficient, and agile technology operations will be the defining factor for success in this next era of air transport. We’re excited to support BG in their ambitious plans and look forward to many more years of powerful collaboration.”

CEO of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Shafiul Azim said: “Sita has proven itself an effective and trusted technology partner over the last half-century. Ensuring our airline’s applications and systems are optimized is critical. With SITA Connect, we can infuse our entire operation with lightning-fast and secure connections that can be adapted over time as we scale. We’re delighted about the planned growth from 21 aircraft to 45 by 2030 and look forward to ensuring smooth and reliable air travel for passengers in the coming years.”