Frequentis
Frequentis, a Vienna company listed on the local exchange, makes voice communication and control-room systems for air traffic control. Its AI is narrow: speech recognition that checks controllers' readbacks and acts as a safety net.
Founded in 1947 with about 2,600 staff, it sells the X10 software-defined voice system, TowerX and digital tower tools, the PRISMA automation suite, arrival and departure managers and smartSTRIPS electronic flight strips. These are conventional systems; the speech recognition is its productised AI.
For the FAA it produced the 15,000th gateway in a national voice-switch programme, compressing an eight-year rollout into 12 months, with 63 X10 systems due by early 2027. DFS is moving its Munich control centre onto a cloud-native Frequentis platform, and Qatar ordered X10 for 40 positions in May 2026.
Products & Solutions
10 productsX10
The Frequentis X10 (formally VCS3020X Release 10) is the next-generation, cloud-native voice communication system for ATM.
Provides ANSPs with a future-proof, software-defined voice communication platform that supports migration from legacy systems to virtualised, cloud-native architectures without disrupting operations. Addresses the need for scalable, cyber-secure, and evergreen communication infrastructure across large and geographically distributed airspace environments.
- Cloud-native, microservices-based architecture for independent modular updates
- Service-oriented, ATM-grade architecture
- Controller-centric HMI with dark/light modes, gesture-based controls, and adaptable layouts
- Multi-level redundancy including geographically redundant data centres, dual-path audio, and role-based resource sharing
10 more features
- Evergreen lifecycle with biannual release cycles deployed via secure browser interface
- Supports deployment on customer COTS hardware or Frequentis turnkey platforms
- Seamless dual operations: air-ground communication mirrored in real time between main and backup systems
- Fast switchover between Release 8 and Release 10 with fully independent software stacks
- ATM-grade cybersecurity via MosaiX platform with encrypted IP communication and hardened containers
- Thin-client operator working position concept enabling central deployment and monitoring
- Supports sectorless flight, UTM integration, and dynamic airspace management
- Virtual Centre capabilities for remote tower and distributed control environments
- Fully ED-137 compliant
- Context-sensitive gesture control HMI
Technical specifications (9)
- ED-137 compliant (standardised and interoperable)
- Cloud-native microservices architecture on MosaiX platform
- Supports COTS hardware and Frequentis turnkey hardware
- Geographically redundant data centre support
- Dual-path audio
- Container-level update deployment via secure browser interface
- Biannual release cycles (Evergreen model)
- Interfaces with 3,500+ VHF radios (per NAV CANADA deployment)
- Supports 1,000+ operator working positions (per NAV CANADA deployment)
- ED-137 compliant (EUROCAE VoIP standard)
- Compliant with all current and anticipated future virtual centre ATM operation requirements
- Supports SESAR-driven separation of ANSP and ADSP services
TowerPad
Advanced integrated controller working position and airport automation system that uses artificial intelligence to support user-centric automation services for air traffic controllers at tower environments. Originally developed by ATRiCS (a Frequentis Group member), TowerPad has been in active service since 2008.
Reduces controller workload and eliminates fragmented, proprietary HMI systems in the control tower. Addresses runway incursion risk, low visibility operations, high workload during peak traffic, and the inefficiency of manual taxi route management.
- Surveillance service: combined air and ground situational display with advanced post-tracking mechanisms
- Airport safety support service: automated detection of traffic conflicts, alerting and warning for deviations or unintended patterns
- Routing service: automatic individual taxi route proposal for all aircraft and vehicles including routing constraints
- Guidance service: automatic switching of centre-line lights and unambiguous taxi route indication to pilots via Follow-the-Greens
8 more features
- Electronic clearance input: direct input of clearances to aircraft, usable with and without electronic flight strips (EFS)
- Touchscreen interface familiar from modern consumer mobile devices
- Adaptable automation levels
- Eliminates more than 75% of all causes of runway incursions (disorientation, incorrect phraseology, misleading signs)
- Doubles movement rate in adverse conditions (LVO, Low Visibility Operations)
- Automated airfield ground lighting control, removes need for dedicated Lighting Panel Operator during LVOs
- Integrates with Frequentis Digital Tower solutions
- Key enabler for Follow-the-Greens operations
Technical specifications (4)
- Operating system: Linux
- Redundancy: reversion to alternative working positions; graceful failover to backup systems
- Interfaces: ground surveillance system, airfield lighting system, electronic flight processing system, ACC system, CDM, weather observation system, video docking guidance system, instrument landing system, video surveillance system, airport operations system
- Level 4 A-SMGCS capable
- Compliant with ICAO and Eurocontrol publications for full range of recommended tower functions
TowerX
TowerX is Frequentis' next-generation integrated tower automation platform that unifies four previously separate legacy tower products, smartSTRIPS, smartTOOLS, smartVISION, and TowerPad, into a single, service-oriented architecture solution.
Eliminates the fragmentation of separate proprietary ATC systems in the tower environment. Provides a unified, scalable tower automation solution that simplifies lifecycle management, reduces integration complexity, and supports the full range of tower operations from conventional towers to advanced digital environments.
- Integrates smartSTRIPS (electronic flight strips), smartTOOLS, smartVISION (video-based surveillance), and TowerPad (surface movement and guidance) into one platform
- Service-oriented architecture
- Consistent user experience and harmonised interfaces across all modules
- Shared lifecycle management for all components
3 more features
- Faster integration and easier updates
- Scalable from conventional towers to advanced digital tower environments
- Supports future digital tower and remote tower operations
Technical specifications (3)
- Service-oriented architecture (SOA)
- Modular component design (smartSTRIPS, smartTOOLS, smartVISION, TowerPad modules)
- Unified platform for routing, guidance, surveillance, flight data, and visualisation
smartTOOLS
smartTOOLS is Frequentis' controller decision support toolset providing the controller with integrated safety and efficiency tools at a single working position. Part of the TowerX platform, it delivers runway incursion prevention, ATIS management, and traffic sequencing aids for approach and ground movement.
- Runway incursion prevention tools
- ATIS management and automated generation
- Traffic sequencing aids for approach and ground movement
- Integrated into TowerX iCWP
1 more feature
- Safety-net alerting for controller decision support
Technical specifications (1)
- Module within TowerX platform. Integrates with A-SMGCS and A-CDM. ICAO and Eurocontrol compliant.
smartVISION
smartVISION delivers ATC-grade video visualisation for tower and digital tower operations. It supports high dynamic range panoramic cameras and ATC-grade PTZ cameras with ICAO-compliant light-gun functionality.
- HDR panoramic cameras for all-weather visibility
- ATC-grade PTZ with ICAO-certified light-gun functionality
- Virtual 360° stitched out-of-the-window view
- Box-and-follow, label overlay, PTZ tracking
2 more features
- Supports remote and contingency digital tower
- AI-enabled runway intrusion and debris detection
Technical specifications (1)
- Integrates into TowerX architecture. Supports both on-site and remote tower configurations.
- ICAO-compliant light-gun functionality
Deployed in Austria, Germany, UK, US, New Zealand, Argentina, Brazil, Denmark and more (2025)
Customers and sites the vendor lists for this product. Aerostack has not verified these unless a deployment record is linked above.
Product documentationsmartSTRIPS
smartSTRIPS replaces traditional paper flight progress strips with a modern, flexible digital system. It is highly configurable in look-and-feel and operational workflows, adapting to local ATC procedures.
- Replaces paper strips with digital flight progress displays
- Highly configurable HMI to match local procedures
- Reduces controller workload and supports safer operations
- Integrated within TowerX unified lifecycle
Technical specifications (1)
- Module within TowerX. Service-oriented architecture via MosaiX.
VCS3020X
Frequentis' established, best-selling IP-based voice communication system (VCS) for safety-critical Air/Ground and Ground/Ground communication in ATM environments. Serves single and networked Area Control Centres (ACCs), approach facilities, and towers.
Provides reliable, high-performance IP voice communication for air traffic controllers across all ATC environments. Enables shared workloads, resources, and management responsibilities between ANSPs and control centres, supporting dynamic airspace use and virtual centre concepts.
- Distributed intelligence across system elements for unrivalled resilience with no single point of failure
- Fully duplicated parallel-operating LAN infrastructure
- Advanced role concept enabling dynamic workload distribution across control centres (sector splitting and merging)
- Resource sharing: multiple control centres access same radio equipment safely
12 more features
- Gap-free acknowledged workflow for airspace handover between sectors
- CONSENSE (CONtext-SENSitivE) layout reduces console complexity by showing only operationally relevant functions
- Radio backup pooling based on ED-137, eliminates 1:1 main/standby radio ratio
- 1,000 operational roles with 23 million operating hours
- Shortest air/ground delay times: 20ms air/ground delay
- Integrated IP backup application running independently on operator working position
- Emergency communication system
- Dynamic sectorisation for cross-border collaborative ATM
- Virtual Centre capability for data centre deployment
- HD audio for Air/Ground and Ground/Ground communication
- Voice compression for bandwidth and cost reduction
- Smart3020X compact variant for tower deployments
Technical specifications (7)
- Air/ground delay time: 20ms
- Interfaces: LAN, WAN, Telephone, Radio ED-137
- Legacy connectivity: two-wire, four-wire, E and M, MFC-R2/R5, ATS-QSIG, ISDN
- Deployment options: small (1HU for tower/small system), split shelf A+B (medium), single A/B shelf for large systems (200+ positions), virtual data centre deployment
- Redundancy: parallel operation, redundant WAN connection, seamless radio connection
- Supports 1,000 operational roles
- 23 million accumulated operating hours
- ED-137 VoIP standard compliance
- ICAO Annex 10 and Annex 11 compliance
- ED-153 software assurance level 3 (SWAL-3)
- ESARR6 fulfilment
- ED-137B (EUROCAE radio and telephone VoIP standardisation)
AMAN (Arrival Manager)
The Frequentis Arrival Manager (AMAN), developed by Frequentis Orthogon, is a decision-support system for air traffic controllers to efficiently sequence and manage arriving aircraft. AMAN meters inbound traffic into a Terminal Manoeuvring Area (TMA), improving delay prediction and reducing aircraft holding.
Reduces inefficient flight profiles, excessive holding, and arrival delays at busy airports by providing controllers with sequencing decision support for inbound traffic, improving runway utilisation and reducing fuel burn and emissions.
- Decision support for all controllers managing arrival traffic in single and multi-runway, multi-airport environments
- Meters traffic into busy TMA improving delay prediction
- Reduces aircraft stack holding
- Route, holding and speed advisories
9 more features
- Calculation of take-off times for short-route flights
- What-if analysis capability
- Extended AMAN (E-AMAN) horizon capability: en-route controllers can manage speed before top-of-descent
- SWIM (System Wide Information Management) support for cross-border extended horizon operations
- E-AMAN powered by AireonFLOW space-based ADS-B for real-time global position data beyond FIR boundaries
- No data-sharing agreements needed with neighbouring countries (E-AMAN with AireonFLOW)
- CANSO Maverick Sustainability Award 2021
- More than one million tons CO2 saved globally in 20+ years of operation
- Compliant with ICAO ASBU Block 2
Technical specifications (4)
- Supports multi-runway and multi-airport configurations
- Extended planning horizon via SWIM
- Space-based ADS-B integration capability (via AireonFLOW for E-AMAN)
- Aligned with ICAO Aviation System Block Upgrades (ASBU)
- Meets ICAO ASBU (Aviation System Block Upgrades) requirements
- Compliant with SESAR ATM Concept of Operations
- Meets safety management and quality assurance objectives (per Avinor evaluation)
IAD (Integrated Arrival Departure Manager)
The Frequentis Integrated Arrival/Departure Manager (IAD) is the combined integration of the Frequentis AMAN and DMAN products into a unified system that facilitates real-time collaboration between tower and approach controllers.
Balances inbound and outbound traffic demand to maximise runway capacity. Eliminates the coordination gap between arrival and departure sequencing that can lead to delays, excessive holding, sub-optimal runway utilisation, and higher fuel burn.
- Integrated AMAN and DMAN in a single unified system
- Common HMI for tower and approach controllers
- Joint planning functions for simultaneous arrival and departure sequencing
- Optimised mixed-mode runway sequencing
7 more features
- Identifies gaps in arrival sequence for additional departures
- Pre-departure sequencing for A-CDM: calculates TTOT (Target Take-Off Times) and TSAT (Target Start-Up Approval Times) based on variable taxi times
- Automated data sharing of real-time predictions with airport stakeholders
- Minimum departure intervals to support TMA management
- Stand contentions to de-conflict push-backs from adjacent stands
- Enables compliance with EU Common Project One (CP1) mandate
- World's first operational IAD deployed for CAA Singapore in 2021
Technical specifications (4)
- DMAN integration with A-CDM: TTOT and TSAT calculation
- Variable taxi time computation
- Real-time prediction sharing with airport stakeholders
- Coupled with A-SMGCS or surface management systems
- Validated within SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research)
- Aligned with ICAO ASBU Block 2 (enhanced AMAN/DMAN coupling for mixed-mode runways)
- Enables European ANSP compliance with EU Common Project One (CP1) mandate
PRISMA
Frequentis' centre-focused ATM automation platform, optimised for en-route, approach and contingency environments. Offers a full range of ATM automation modules designed for use-cases from standalone solutions to fully integrated surveillance and flight plan data processing systems.
Provides ANSPs with scalable, modular ATM automation covering flight data processing, safety nets, and controller working positions. Also provides resilient contingency/backup ATM automation to ensure uninterrupted operations during primary system failures, cyber attacks, or natural disasters.
- PRISMA-FDPS (Flight Data Processing System): automated processing of flight plan and surveillance data; supports free route operations with accurate 4D trajectory predictions; silent coordination via ground-ground data link; graphical interface for managing SFPLs
- PRISMA-SNET (Safety Nets): SWAL-3 certified, fully redundant alert calculation backend; ASTERIX format surveillance inputs; meteorological parameters for alert filtering; multi-hypothesis trajectory prediction; transmits alerts in EUROCAE ASTERIX CAT004
- Controller Working Position (CWP): workflow-oriented, SWAL-3 HMI; integrates all surveillance data (radar, ADS-B, multilateration) in single display
- PRISMA-ASD (Air Situation Display): cost-efficient awareness display with weather overlay; reduces controller workload
4 more features
- Buy-as-you-grow modular architecture
- Backup solution for Thales and Indra primary ATM systems
- Vertical integration from multiple sensor sources to ARTAS or multi-sensor fusion systems
- Aligned with ICAO global air navigation plan (ASBU roadmap) and SESAR deployment programme
Technical specifications (7)
- Receives ATS surveillance reports in ASTERIX format
- Transmits safety alerts using EUROCAE ASTERIX CAT004
- SWAL-3 (Software Assurance Level 3) certified modules
- 4D trajectory prediction
- Multi-hypothesis trajectory prediction
- Fully redundant backend architecture
- Integrates radar, ADS-B, and multilateration surveillance data
- Compliant with ICAO standards
- Compliant with Eurocontrol standards
- Compliant with EUROCAE standards
- Aligned with ICAO global air navigation plan (ASBU roadmap)
- Aligned with SESAR deployment programme
Register notes
Notes held in the Aerostack register. Aerostack has not independently verified them.
- Controller workload constraints limit capacity growth at many facilities
- Automation tools reducing routine tasks increasingly important for traffic growth
- Remote tower technology opens markets at smaller aerodromes
- Civil aviation approximately 60%
- Public safety and transport approximately 40%
- Thales, Indra, Leonardo (ATM)
- Rohde and Schwarz (communications)
Earlier listing summary (3 groups)
Summary text from the earlier Aerostack listing. Figures in it are not independently verified.
- Voice communication systems (VCS) for ATM
- Over 30% global market share in ATC voice systems
- Integrated controller working positions
- Tower automation with AI-assisted features
- Remote digital tower solutions
- VCS: Air-ground and ground-ground communications
- TowerPad: Integrated workstation with automated taxi routing
- Remote Digital Tower: Camera-based ATC from centralised facilities
- TowerX: Unified tower automation platform (launched November 2025)
- 30,000 customers in 150 countries
- 2025 revenue: EUR 580 million (up from EUR 480M)
- 2025 EBIT: EUR 47 million
- Order intake: EUR 680 million
Profile data from the Aerostack companies register; deployment records from the verified register. Evidence grades: T1 first-party confirmation, T2 credible reporting. See Our approach for how records are graded.