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.
