8 July 2010
Telkom's role and involvement in the 2010 FIFA World Cup
- 1. Compliance with FIFA's Information Technology and Telecommunications specifications
- In essence, the FIFA specifications cover four broad areas, namely:
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- I. Dual optic-fibre routes/redundancy (back-up) with no single point of
failure from each stadium to the International Broadcast Centre.
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- II. 99.99 percent availability of the network without any failure during
any of the matches.
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- III. Self healing capability of the network: ASTN (Automatically Switched
Transport Network).
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- IV. 20 GB/sec bandwidth capacity for high definition TV broadcasting.
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- Telkom has designed its network as such and has met all the required specifications.
All routes and equipment to and from the stadia as well as the International
Broadcast Centre have network redundancies (back-ups). In the unlikely
event of damage to a route or equipment, traffic can be re-routed via an
alternative.
- There are two Telkom hubs (carrier rooms) within each stadium. By constructing
a second hub at each stadium, the possibility of any service interruption
is further reduced.
- Telkom has furthermore provisioned for 20GB/sec of protected bandwidth
from each stadium to the International Broadcast Centre. This is for video
images that will be packaged for television broadcasting.
- Telkom has also provisioned an additional 2,5 GB/sec of protected bandwidth
from each stadium for Information Technology and Telecommunications purposes,
in other words for telephony, Internet, faxes, e-mails and so forth.
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- 2. Telkom's role and involvement explained
- 2.1 Television
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- FIFA, via Host Broadcast Services (HBS), will capture images of every
game during the event. HBS provides a world feed of every match (multi-lateral
feed). In addition, Media Rights Licensees will capture unilateral feeds
for their own audiences.
- Multi-and unilateral feeds are carried to the TV compound located within
each stadium via camera cables. There is a TV monitor for every camera
in the TV compound. These feeds are still in the form of both high-definition
and standard video images.
- HBS then hands the video signal to Telkom for conversion into a digital
signal. The conversion happens to enable transportation via Telkom's Next
Generation Network, and to maintain quality and security over distance.
- This converted digital signal is then transported to the International
Broadcast Centre via both the Telkom exchanges/hubs within each stadium.
The signal is routed to physically different fibre pathways in Telkom's
core/national network.
- In the International Broadcast Centre the inverse happens. The digital
signal is converted back to video by Telkom's partner, Media Broadcast
SA. Telkom hands this video signal back to HBS in the form in which it
was received, in other words high-definition and standard.
- HBS then hands these over to broadcasters, based on their specifications
and requirements (e.g. multilateral and unilateral feeds; different pre-and-post
match coverage durations; etc.).
- Although Telkom is not involved in this process, it is interesting to
note that when broadcasters receive their feeds, they adapt them primarily
through the addition of local commentary and advertisements. This is done
in the International Broadcast Centre where broadcasters will have booked
their own studios.
- This final product of some broadcasters is handed back to Telkom for transmission
to each of these broadcasters' specified signal distributor. For example,
Telkom will hand the signal to the SABC for South African viewers. (The
SABC broadcasts to South African viewers via its signal distributor.
- Telkom's role ends at this point.
- It is worth noting that some international broadcasters may choose to
utilise Telkom's undersea infrastructure to transport their signal to their
respective destinations which serves as a hand-over point from Telkom to
that specific broadcaster. Brazil is a case in point in this regard.
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- 2.2 Media services: print journalists and photographers
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- Each stadium has a Stadium Media Centre (SMC) which is located away from
the field of play. Telkom has equipped these SMCs with telephone, fax,
printer and data ports.
- In addition to the SMC, an additional designated media area is located
on the grandstand. This is known as a Media Tribune. Journalists seated
here can view the matches as they cover the games. Telkom has also equipped
the Media Tribune with telephone and data ports.
- Telkom has installed equipment at each of the four pitch corners to enable
photo-journalists to download and send pictures to their respective destinations
(e.g. to their editors) in real time as the action happens on the field.
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- 2.3 Presentation studios and mixed zones for post-match interviews
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- Telkom has installed wireless connectivity to enable media to cover these
in real-time. These studios are also within the stadium.
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- 2.4 Radio
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- Telkom has installed connectivity within the radio commentary booths to
provide this media sector with voice and data ports.
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- 2.5 Other
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- Telkom infrastructure is also enabling the following at each stadium:
- Volunteer Centre
- Accreditation Centre
- Ticketing (at stadium and host-city level)
- LOC and FIFA offices
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- 3. Conclusion
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- Telkom is confident it can meet FIFAs Service Level Agreement of 99.99
percent availability of the network.
- This confidence also stems from Telkom's track record thus far:
- Flawless delivery of the Preliminary Draw: November 2007
- The Confederations Cup: 14 to 28 June 2009. The Confederations Cup was
executed without a moment's downtime from an ICT perspective.
- The 2010 World Cup Final Draw on 4 December 2009.
For further enquiries, please contact:
Pynee Chetty
Senior Specialist: Media Relations
Group Communication
Tel:+27 12 642 1716
Mobile: +27 81 389 7874
Email: chettpr2@telkom.co.za
|
OR |
Leigh-Ann Francis
Specialist: Media Relations
Group Communication
Tel: +27 12 642 1728
Mobile: +27 81 391 4780
Email: francilm@telkom.co.za
|
Telkom Park, The Apex
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Technopark
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|
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