When the F'ed'eration Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup Association wanted a network for the 2002 FIFA World Cup that would give officials, reporters and volunteers instantaneous access to scores, statistics, player comments, real-time coverage of the games, as well as a host of systems to manage games logistics, it turned to Avaya Inc. and named the company its first official "convergence communication provider."
The network, designed specifically for the FIFA World Cup to be held next June in Korea and Japan, will mark the first time FIFA will use voice over IP (VoIP) at an event. It`s also the first time a communications network will support simultaneous FIFA World Cup matches in two countries. In addition, the converged network will be among the world`s largest, featuring:
* 120,000 connections between 20 stadiums, two international media centers and two headquarters in Korea and Japan
* 10,000 data and communications devices online
* 1,000 miles (1600 km) of the Avaya SYSTIMAX Structured Cabling
* 200 Access Point Routers
* 150 separate wide area network (WAN) connections
* 100 Avaya Cajun family of data networking switches
* 50 Avaya Internet Protocol (IP) communications systems with 400 endpoints (300 hard phones and 100 softphones)
* 12 DEFINITY G3 SI Enterprise Communications Servers (ECS)
The Avaya network will handle FIFA World Cup systems for scheduling games and notifying teams, reviewing and accrediting participants, collating and reporting game results, tracking materials inventory, scheduling and confirming accommodations and transportation, and tracking and maintaining security systems.
An initial test of the network late last year, when it was used to group and schedule teams at the Final Draw event, demonstrated flawless performance. The next significant test will take place in April, when the accreditation center and International Media and Broadcasting Center (IMC) are tested.
"Each communication and computer hookup for the games will be a test of our expertise," said Mark Leigh, president, Avaya Asia Pacific. "We are confident Avaya will deliver on its promise to make the 2002 FIFA World Cup a technology benchmark for future world-class sporting events."
With intense worldwide interest in the games, Leigh said flawless network performance is paramount to Avaya and everyone associated with the FIFA World Cup. The company`s state-of-the-art communication solutions are 99.99% accurate.
Such reliability is a hallmark of Avaya networks. This is why more than 90 percent of all Fortune 500 companies and most U.S. government organizations rely on the company for secure network infrastructures. "Under the banner of `Communications Power Your Company,`" said Leigh, "we`ve led the industry in reliable voice and data applications that power faster decisions, more profitable transactions, and closer relationships among customers, employees and suppliers.
"In the case of the FIFA World Cup, this is the first time the organization`s networks have had to cross seas and deliver support in two countries. But we know our solutions are up to the challenge, because we`ve been providing world-class voice and data networks for years. This is one more fabulous opportunity to showcase our technology."
Real-Time Reporting
The 2002 event will be the first-ever FIFA World Cup at which reporters will be able to use wireless local area network (LAN) technology to access the Internet via laptop PCs, no matter where they are. They can send and receive text and picture files while watching a game in the stands, for instance, then forward their story and artwork to editors in their home cities, making deadlines far less onerous, especially given the time changes. Avaya will provide wireless LANs in both major media centers, as well as in all FIFA remote headquarters facilities in Seoul and Tokyo.
But perhaps the most unique feature of the network is voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology for long distance calls and some local calls through the WAN. "An Avaya DEFINITY IP-enabled communications server will be used in every stadium in Japan to support VoIP," said Doug Gardner, Avaya Asia-Pacific regional manager. "We`ll also provide IP soft phones and hard phones."
The IP soft phones work through PC software over wired or wireless connections. The hard phones operate just like regular wired desktop phones.
To assure compatibility and reliability of the different systems, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) will be important in regulating network access. Avaya will provide up to five VPNs within the network for different user groups. Also, since two countries will host the finals, new SYSTIMAX GigaSPEED cabling and optical fiber was installed, along with Avaya Cajun backbone data switches, to assure cross-border communications work flawlessly.
The Services Behind the Service
In addition to the thousands of hardware and software products that make up the FIFA World Cup network, Avaya will deliver an equally monumental level of onsite services, including deployment, maintenance and management of all data systems that carry the principal applications in both countries.
Avaya Services experts from around the world - teamed with the company`s BusinessPartners in Japan and Korea - will stage, integrate, and install the network to FIFA specifications. They will be responsible for accurately turning up a series of Cajun backbone switches and servers, as well as all wireless Access Point servers and specially installed firewalls for security.
During the games, Avaya will also provide Network Management Services from central locations in Japan and Korea and provide after-hours coverage from Avaya`s Global Remote Network Management Services group in the U.S. Avaya Business Partners and the company`s Global Support Organization will provide all maintenance support under the direction of the Avaya Network Operations Centers at the FIFA Media Centers. Due to the significant scope and importance of the project, Avaya will also deploy resources from the U.S. and other countries to manage the effort. Overall, more than 100 support personnel will be engaged.
A Sprint to the Finish
Even with all the myriad of service and system compatibility issues inherent in delivering this one-of-a-kind network, Gardner said the work has been exciting. "While the commercial challenge has been significant," he noted, "the complexity of the project has also made finding the right solution that much more gratifying." The next milestones for Avaya parallel those of the FIFA World Cup teams as they sprint toward the finals. The first critical milestone in 2002 will be opening the accreditation centers for reporters and volunteers by April, including full testing of the International Media and Broadcasting Centers. The final critical milestone will be "going live" with the network in mid-May at all venues - in time for the 64 final competition matches that begin at the end of that month.
As an official sponsor, Avaya`s mission is to deliver a high-performance, high-reliability network for the games, especially since the company is also a sponsor of the FIFA Women`s World Cup 2003 to be hosted by China PR, and the 2006 FIFA World Cup to be hosted by Germany.
"Avaya is looking forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with world soccer," Gardner said.
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