Iceland | What started as a search for new LED solutions at KEF Airport turned into a multi-year journey. The challenge not only lay with technical integration, but also with strict safety and energy standards. Behind the scenes of a complex airport tender process.
Mid-January, we land in Iceland during a snowstorm with near-zero visibility – welcome to the Arctic Circle. This is no ordinary business trip for invidis.
Keflavík International Airport (KEF), Iceland’s main gateway to the world, may not be among the largest airports, but it plays a crucial role in transatlantic travel. Serving over 8 million passengers annually, KEF is strategically located between Europe and North America.
Shortly after landing, I’m greeted by a delegation for a site inspection of the latest digital signage installations. KEF was the first major LED Flip Chip DvLED project at a European airport, implemented by Icelandic digital signage integrator Ofar in collaboration with Sharp/NEC. The project was commissioned by airport operator Isavia, which manages all static and digital advertising media in-house.
New to the DooH portfolio are 18 high-impact screens in the baggage claim area, installed in just a few days during autumn 2024. The network includes 16 Flip Chip LED displays, each with a 200-inch diagonal and a resolution of 3072 x 864 pixels. Four synchronized LED screens are positioned at each baggage carousel, simultaneously displaying the same campaign for maximum visual impact and advertising dominance.
In addition, two even larger LED screens have been seamlessly integrated into the wall paneling. These displays boast resolutions far exceeding 4K – posing a challenge for standard media players. However, Brightsign’s top-tier XC series media players easily met the demands, delivering ultra-high-resolution playback.
All screens are remotely managed via a rack system located approximately 100 meters away, connected through a network of fiber optic cables.
There’s no doubt that Fine Pitch LED – more precisely, Flip Chip DvLED technology – offers unmatched picture quality and an immersive viewing experience. The Sharp/NEC installations at KEF Airport’s baggage claim area are a prime example.
These displays are particularly effective because the long-running ad campaigns, aimed almost exclusively at arriving tourists, are tailored specifically for the screens’ unique aspect ratio and resolution. Each ad slot is just 8 seconds long and appears every 120 seconds, with advertisers allowed up to five creative variations per campaign. The non-standard resolution of the DooH screens poses no issue, as the content is primarily localized tourist advertising rather than global or programmatic campaigns.
But what truly fascinates digital signage professionals lies behind the scenes.
One standout feature is the custom-engineered steel substructure developed specifically for KEF’s rugged airport environment. It ensures durability and smooth operation in demanding conditions. Just as impressive is the back-of-house installation quality. Network cables are laid out with exceptional precision – an ideal real-world example for training future digital signage technicians.
Sustainability was also a key focus. Sharp/NEC’s green signage solutions were integrated throughout the project, including their LED-RPS-CL-R remote power switch system for each LED video wall. This allows for controlled power-up to limit inrush current, eliminates standby power loss, and meets the airport operator’s high standards for both energy efficiency and operational safety.
Six months after installation, the airport operator reports good operational stability, strong ad sales, and a return on investment that has exceeded expectations.
