Passengers at Munich Airport can now use Bluetooth Auracast to receive announcements directly through compatible headphones or earbuds. The public address systems provider Sittig Technologies has activated the broadcast technology at a total of six gates at Germany’s second-largest airport hub, marking the second Auracast installation at a German airport.
How the technology works
Auracast allows an audio signal to be transmitted simultaneously to an unlimited number of compatible devices. The only requirement is that headphones, earbuds, or hearing aids support the technology, which is now the case for many higher-end models as well as some more affordable devices from Anker, Earfun, or Creative Labs. Anyone with a model that supports this feature will soon be able to connect directly to the Auracast transmitters at the boarding gates in Munich.
Benefits for People with Hearing Aids
This technology offers noticeable benefits, especially for travelers with hearing aids or compatible cochlear implants, as traditional telecoil systems have so far been available only sporadically at German and Austrian airports. Frankfurt Airport does not have any telecoil systems at all, while Berlin-Brandenburg Airport offers them only in areas designated for people with limited mobility.
Pilot program at six gates
The installation in Munich is currently still in the pilot phase. So far, Gates A42/A43 and A44/A45 in the new Pier A of Terminal 1, as well as Gates G31/G32 in Terminal 2—where Lufthansa and its Star Alliance partners operate—have been equipped. Sittig Technologies’ first installation in Germany—and indeed the world’s first at an airport—is already up and running at Frankfurt Airport, where the trial period has since been extended.
The odds are good that Auracast will gain traction at international airports in the future, as the technology is relatively easy to retrofit and many current headphone models already support it. The technology is also increasingly being used outside of airports, such as in train stations, buses, and concert halls. Anyone looking to invest in Auracast-compatible accessories will find several headphone models—such as the JBL Tour One M3, which performed impressively in our test —that offer not only streaming but also practical additional features for on-the-go use.
