Near 100 per cent reliability

The IT Solution project was responsible for delivering a whole host of event-specific applications and voice/data telecommunication services via a massive private network which encompassed hundreds of locations, including the stadia, media centres and headquarters and VIP hotels. This “event network” was built specifically to support the 2006 FIFA World Cup applications and telecommunications traffic and had to transport mission-critical data with 99.99 per cent reliability.

“The network project team was co-led by two consultants, one from Avaya and one from Deutsche Telekom. They were in charge of the whole implementation of the event network,” Kelly continued. “They had been working together for three years and had cross-trained one another so that they could present a unified voice to the stadiums. This spirit of teamwork has been a critical aspect of the 2006 project.”

The IT Solution applications were split into two key categories. Event Management Systems (EMS) - a collection of software applications required to support the overall operation and management of the FIFA World Cup. Functions include the registration, processing and creation of credentials for key event participants, media and volunteers, transportation of VIPs attending the event, logistics planning and the tracking of valuable event assets. These services were provided by a suite of applications covering Accreditation, Volunteer/Staff Management, Protocol/Travel Management, Transportation and Materials and Logistics.

Event Information Systems (EIS) – these were designed to capture FIFA World Cup data, including match results, statistics and media-specific information. EIS included the ‘Media Channel’ - a media information sub-site provided by Yahoo! and integrated within the FIFAworldcup.com platform - and the Results system, which captures match information and statistics in real-time for use by the television host broadcaster, FIFAworldcup.com and other FIFA information properties.

Avaya: converged performance

As official convergence communication provider, Avaya provided the data networking components, services and software needed to power the event network and was responsible for implementing and managing the voice and data network infrastructure and software to meet the stringent availability requirements of the tournament. The company also worked together with Deutsche Telekom in the implementation, monitoring and overall management of the event network.

“This was our most visible project in 2006,” explained Doug Gardner, managing director of Avaya’s FIFA World Cup technical programme. “It was a great showcase for us, which in turn opens up new business opportunities since it shows our longevity – if we can afford to be a FIFA World Cup Partner, then we can also be a long-term partner to others.”

This is the second time that FIFA has implemented a converged communications network for football’s biggest showcase based on Avaya technologies. A converged network merges traditional data and telephony networks onto a single communications platform, providing greater communications services as well as voice-over IP for telephone calls over the Internet.

“The reason we originally became involved in the FIFA World Cup was that after being spun off from Lucent Technologies, we saw it as both a branding opportunity and an internal morale-booster,” Gardner continued. “It is the largest sporting property in the world, so Avaya was very proud to be a part of it. It’s also been very good for raising our global profile, as almost everyone’s passionate about the World Cup.”

Avaya provided the software, media and communication gateways and servers that made the converged network possible. Additionally, Avaya wireless-LAN equipment was widely used during the tournament to extend the reach of the IT infrastructure for event staff and other participants requiring flexible, mobile network connectivity. Of course, human resources were also important and Avaya deployed 250 full-time employees throughout the competition.