Smart stadium technology becoming a reality
Date
7/15/2016 4:30:55 AM
Vodafone Arena in Turkey will act as a model for Vodafone Qatar for the smart stadium infrastructures that are planned to be built at eight stadiums to be used during 2022 Qatar World Cup.
By Fazeena Saleem
How would you like ordering food and beverages at your seat while watching a football match during Qatar 2022 World Cup?
This would become a reality if Vodafone Qatar";s smart stadium technology proposition becomes a reality.
As Qatar";s 2022 World Cup preparations get accelerated, the fan expectations also increase. Obviously in six years when more than a million people expected to visit Qatar for the Middle East";s first World Cup, they will have a high level of expectations to stay connected and share the unforgettable experience via videos, pictures and messages with others online. Undoubtedly, it will be an important aspect of the fan experience.
With an expectation to grant this fan experience, Vodafone Qatar, Vodafone Turkey and Besiktas JK sports club signed an agreement recently in Istanbul to accelerate the transfer of knowledge, expertise and technological know-how from Turkey";s first smart-stadium, the Vodafone Arena in the Besiktas district of Istanbul to one of the world";s fastest growing football markets in Qatar.
Mohamed Al Sadah, Chief Operating Officer at Vodafone Qatar, said, 'We are delighted to partner with our sister company Vodafone Turkey to bring their extensive expertise and experience in deploying smart stadiums to Qatar. Vodafone is committed to bring expertise and innovation to Qatar from all parts of one of the world";s largest telecommunications companies and to provide the country with a world class telecommunications infrastructure that supports the Qatar 2022 World Cup and Qatar National Vision 2030”
GökhanÖgüt, CEO, Vodafone Turkey, said, 'We have built one of the world";s most advanced technological infrastructures to Vodafone Arena that has already taken its place in the heart of Istanbul and Turkey as a monument of our digital transformation vision.”
'And now we feel quite excited to export this smart infrastructure to Qatar. Vodafone Arena will act as a model for Vodafone Qatar for the smart stadium infrastructures that are planned to be built at 8 stadiums that will be used during 2022 Qatar World Cup. As Vodafone Turkey, we will share our smart stadium know-how and experience with Vodafone Qatar, providing them with all the support they need,” he added.
Media people from Qatar on a visit to Istanbul last week were given a tour of the Vodafone Arena. It features a unique five-layer digital infrastructure.
Digital heart
At the most basic layer lies system and telecom rooms which make up the digital heart of the smart stadium infrastructure and the Vodafone Arena.
- Currently the system room in stadium houses 69 cabinets with 228 active devices (server/router/switch)
- Aside from this there are eight telecom rooms surrounding all corners of the stadium which supports the telecom infrastructure of the stadium. These telecom rooms house eight cabinets with 30 active devices (server/router/switch) .
- It has laid down 142,305 metres of cable to connect all this infrastructure. has been aid exactly.
- It is providing 60 Gbps aggregate capacity thanks to our fibre infrastructure.
Seamless Connectivity
- At the second layer of Vodafone Arena, intelligent infrastructure lies the Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G and 4.5G compatible network connections that simultaneously meets the connection needs of 50 thousand visitors.
- In this context, we offer 4.5G connection at speeds up to 150 Mbps which reaches .300 Mbps combined with Wifi.
- In order to offer high-speed and uninterrupted Internet connection to all subscribers in the best way, it has used 380 antennas and 620 Wi-Fi hotspots.
Interactive displays and Videowalls
- At the third layer of the infrastructure, lies digital displays installed at different locations which allows to broadcast different content empowering with all the facilities the advanced broadcasting technology has to offer.
- More than 850 TVs, eight types of videowalls at 43 different locations, interactive screens mounted to 2,200 seats to enhance the football experience by offering not only what";s readily visible but also what";s behind the scenes.
- In addition, aim to boost the joy of watching a soccer game for spectators with cutting edge technology LED screens located at sidelines and in between stands.
- All VideoWalks, seatback screens and LEDs, are connected to each other in an integrated manner with Cisco Stadium Vision solutions and managed from a single centre.
- Due to this technology organisers, one can diversify the pre-game, in-game and post-game content, offering the ultimate smart stadium experience for visitors.
- In addition, through live statistical figures broadcast each minute and enable spectators to be at top of the game.
Digital Compass of the Match
- The fourth layer, is the VF Arena APP, which delivers fans and visitors rich content.
- Through a mobile app, users get instant access to every detail of the game.
- The fans who can not make it to the Vodafone Arena stadium can access the 3-D simulations of the stadium through the app.
- App spectators are also able to view the game through the mobile app using Wi-Fi connection.
- Moreover, one can rewind and replay the game according to one";s wish.
Value Added Services
- The final layer comprises special advantageous Vodafone services facilitating the lives of our subscribers.
- Vodafone Arena aims to enhance the in-game comfort of visitors, through the location-based services powered by the beacon technology.
- Because of this technology, subscribers will be able to easily find their seats and in the future will be able to place orders directly to the seat.
- Special statistics, payment systems, enhanced visual services will be also offered.
'We had planned and implemented this infrastructure in an integrated manner all the way from the construction phase as a novelty in Europe. We can say that most important feature of the Vodafone Arena that sets it apart from other stadiums in the world,” said Ögüt.
During the last match played at Vodafone Arena, Turkey";s first smart stadium, nearly 12,000 people used a total of 413 GB data through Vodafone SuperNet 4.5G with speeds up to 150 Gbps, and about 7,000 people used a total of 785 GB data through Vodafone Super Net Wi-Fi with speeds up to 300 Gbps. This highlights how around the world, football fans are becoming increasingly digital and expect greater levels of connectivity as more and more people take to social media to post during games.
Such technologies are set to become a fundamentally important element in the infrastructure/stadia and venues being built for major sports events across the region — from the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Qatar in 2019, the Qatar 2022 World Cup and beyond.
The Peninsula