In this interview, Marc Lamp, Key Account Manager Transport & Mobility at 450connect, explains why secure and resilient communication is becoming increasingly important for airports – and why 450connect recently joined the GATE network as a new member.
Marc, 450connect is new to the GATE association. Why is GATE a good fit for you?
450connect originated in the energy sector – our shareholders come from the energy and water industries, but our services are aimed at all operators of critical infrastructure. Since 2025, we have deliberately expanded our focus to include transport and mobility. My job is to strategically build up this business area, establish relevant contacts, and launch pilot projects.
Associations play a central role in this, as they bring together exactly the players that are relevant to us: airports, seaports, railways and stations, logistics, and public authorities. GATE caught our attention with its active work, strong network, and openness to innovation. After the initial discussions, it quickly became clear that this was a very good fit, both professionally and personally.
What exactly does 450connect do—and why is it relevant for airports?
We are building and operating a nationwide, highly resilient communications network based on the 450 MHz frequency. This LTE frequency is used worldwide for crisis communication because of
• Particularly good propagation characteristics,
• Coverage of large areas,
• A minimum 72-hour availability in the event of power failures,
• High security thanks to a closed network without an internet connection
The network is specially designed for critical infrastructures (KRITIS) – i.e., organizations that must remain operational even in crisis situations. Airports are clearly among them.
Why haven't airports been using such solutions across the board so far?
Many airports still rely on public mobile networks or very expensive proprietary systems. The problem is that these solutions often become unreliable or fail completely in the event of power outages, cyberattacks, or network disruptions. 450connect was created precisely for this scenario. The Federal Network Agency specifically allocated the 450 MHz frequency to establish an independent and resilient communication solution for KRITIS operators. Our network is in the final stages of nationwide deployment and already covers around 95% of Germany. Nationwide deployment will be completed by the end of Q1/2026.
Who at the airport would be a potential user?
Not only the airport operator itself, but all business-critical players, for example:
• Airport operations and control centers
• Ground handling services
• Maintenance and technical teams
• Security services
• Energy and utility companies
• Vehicles and technical systems (e.g., via machine data)
In short: everyone who needs to keep operations running – even when nothing else is working.
How does implementation work in practice?
There are two main use cases:
1. Voice communication
Robust, smartphone-like devices with push-to-talk and individual and group calls. These devices can be operated on both public mobile networks and the 450connect network, making it easy to switch to crisis mode.
2. Data communication (machine-to-machine)
For example, for vehicles, sensors, or technical systems that need to transmit data reliably even in the event of power failures.
Getting started is relatively easy:
Purchase end devices, insert a 450connect SIM card, and the system is ready to use. No years-long projects, just quickly available resilience. Customers only pay for the SIM cards they activate!
How would you like to get involved with GATE?
450connect would like to be very active in the GATE network. We are particularly interested in working groups on topics such as regulation, KRITIS, and new legal frameworks. In addition, we see great added value in workshops at conferences such as GATE Future, joint trade fair appearances, and cooperative formats with airports.
Another focus is on pilot projects – deliberately also with smaller and innovative airports. For us, it's not just about working with large hubs, but about gaining practical experience together and continuously developing solutions.
Marc Lamp, Key Account Manager Transport & Mobility at 450connect.
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