British Airways (BA) has completed a communications network at Heathrow Terminal Five (T5) linking 5,000 staff in the check-in, baggage drop and boarding areas.

The network will become operational when T5 opens for business on the 27 March.

The system is an improvement on other terminals, said BA communications networks manager Phil Hawker.

"Moving into our new home at Heathrow is a great opportunity to optimise the technology that lies behind our operation here," he said. "We have made sure that everything we are doing has been well proven in the existing terminals."

The network will handle information, ticketing and departure control for some 30 million passengers a year, as well as crew scheduling and other back office systems.

The network has been installed by vendor Affiniti.