Communication goals at FIFA 2002

FIFA World Cup 2002, the single largest business in 2002, is operating one of
the most complex and largest communications network from 31 May, 2002, the start
of the World Cup. The biggest accomplishment was a voice and data network,
linking 20 stadia to support a cumulative audience of over 30 billion people.
The biggest challenge - connecting across two countries and within a short span
of 10 months. In 2001, the Swiss firm that owned the marketing rights to the
World Cup went bankrupt that resulted in a delay in the contracts for the
network.

FIFA and Avaya, the lead vendor and architect, were left with only about 10
months to build the network for the 40,000 users at the event. Avaya, the
"official convergence communication provider" for the 2002 World Cup
built the network in a record time.

The World Cup network has two systems: the Japanese portion of the network is
an ATM WAN, and the Korean, Frame Relay. The maximum load occurs on two separate
days when five matches are played simultaneously, with like 10,000 devices
operating, including telephones. "For the length of the championship, the
network will be as large as those of the largest enterprises in the world and
twice the size of the Olympics," said, Avaya Asia Pacific, regional manager
Doug Gardner.

A look at the teams-viewers connection during the 2002 FIFA World cup through
key technologies.

The largest converged voice and data network ever

The network that was designed specifically for the FIFA World cup marks the
first time that a VoIP was used in a soccer event. This was for the first time
that the communications network is supporting simultaneous matches in two
countries. Also this network is being touted as the largest converged network
ever featuring:

• 40,000 connections between 20 stadia, two international media centers and
  two headquarters in Korea and Japan.
• Over 10,000 data and communications devices online
• About 5,000 km of Systimax structured cabling used.
• About 5,000 Avaya wireless portfolio LAN PC cards and 200 wireless LAN
  access points
• 150 separate WAN connections
• Over 25 IP communications systems with 7,000 end points.
• Over 20 Definity GE SI enterprise communications servers in use.

The network supports real-time reporting and VoIP

For the first time reporters are able to use wireless LAN technology
(802.11b) to access the Internet via the laptops, no matter where they are. The
WLAN network from the two media centers and the FIFA remote head quarters
facilitates the sending and receiving of text as well as pix files. The most
important feature of the network is the VoIP technology for long distance calls
and some local calls through the WAN. For this an Avaya Definity IP-enabled
communications server is being used in every stadium in Japan and IP soft phone
and hard phones are being used. While the IP softphones work through the PC
software over wired or wireless connections, the hard phones operate just like
the regular desktop phones.

Six partners, who made the IT solution possible

To reach the 30 billion-plus viewers and spectators worldwide through
Internet and TV, it means that the best of the technology and carrier partners
need to work in unison and effective co-ordination. There are six official
partners striving to make this a successful venture.



Avaya, Toshiba, Fuji Xerox, Yahoo, Korea Telecom, and NTT have joined hands to
build the solution to bring in the best to the world. While Avaya is the key
network provider, Toshiba’s role is supporting the smooth operation of the
FIFA World Cup with IT-related products, including personal computers and PC
servers, and by consulting on modification of the official FIFA World Cup Web
site. Yahoo is the official site anchor for the FIFA site. The role of the two
telephony companies KT and NTT is providing carrier services.

The IT solution includes a range of applications and systems to plan, manage,
run, and showcase the event. The overall scope includes the Games Management
System (GMS), Internet, Result Systems, Ticketing, Media Systems, and other
systems. It is also for the first time that IT solution are used to work with
the Host Broadcast Services’ (HBS). HBS, a fully controlled subsidiary of
Kirch Sport AG, is responsible for preparing the international signal for the
global broadcasting of the world cup. It is this that provides the result
systems, the commentator information system, and the TV graphics.

The official Website for the event
anticipates five billion page views. The site has over 10 million page
impressions per day and over 10 million unique visitors. The information is
spread over seven languages and provides real-time updates of matches via a data
feed from the result system.