INTERVIEW
: partnerships partnershipscritical critical totodeveloping developingsmart smartcities cities Part 1
As Qatar develops the necessary infrastructure around World Cup projects, and smart cities such as Msheireb emerges, the need for an integrated ICT infrastructure grows. Vodafone is a company with experience and expertise in fixed networks, mobility, IoT, cloud solutions, big data and analytics. In the first part of this twopart interview, Construction Sites sits with Mahmud Awad, Chief Business Officer at Vodafone Qatar, to discuss the company’s IoT platform and how it can help business in the country, as well as Vodafone’s smart stadium technology and how it plans to support World Cup 2022 stadiums smart infrastructure. 1. What is the aim of launching Vodafone’s Global IoT Platform? Vodafone has extensive experience and expertise in fixed networks, mobility, IoT, cloud solutions, big data and analytics. Together, these have made us IoT partner of choice for cities, businesses and governments all over the world. As one of the largest telecommunications businesses in the world, we combine global scale and expertise with in-depth understanding and experience of the local markets in which we operate. Enterprises in Qatar will now have access to the latest IoT platform and solutions for fleet management and asset tracking with many other applications to follow in the coming year. Only Vodafone can provide a global M2M SIM card, enabling, IoT adopters to experience business optimisation through cost saving. The roll-out of IoT services over our superfast network is an important part of our strategic direction to bring all that’s innovative to Qatar and in turn help realise the Qatar National Vision 2030. We’re also ideally placed to support the State of Qatar more broadly as the country develops the necessary infrastructure around World Cup projects, and smart cities such as Msheireb emerge, offering the promise of enhancing people’s lifestyle as well as empowering businesses through efficient & sustainable services delivered by an integrated ICT infrastructure. We have the knowledge, expertise, experience and capabilities as a world-class telecommunications partner to deliver the required infrastructure, technologies and digital transformation. Creating smart cities that will improve the quality of life for all people in Qatar has been identified as an important focus area by Qatar’s various authorities. The transportation sector especially is a priority area for the country as it attempts to deal with its growing traffic problems in addition to the importance of ensuring that Qatar’s emerging smart cities remain safe cities. Smart solutions will be key to bringing about the required benefits to Qatar and Vodafone’s IoT fleet management, asset tracking and video surveillance solutions will help Qatar’s businesses and authorities achieve this. 2. The Internet of Things (IoT) is transforming business today. How you can help businesses adopt IoT? Delivering smart cities requires an enormous range of capabilities that no single company alone can deliver. Forming a consortium and creating an ecosystem through partnerships is an essential part of our approach to delivering smart cities. This underpins our success in delivering IoT solutions in countries around the world including Spain and Turkey. We have the world’s largest owned network. And with this a full spectrum of partnerships that serve more than 400 million customers. We have extensive experience of working with an enormous range of technology partners and providers in a large number of different contexts and locations. We have mobile operations in 26 countries, partners with mobile networks in 54 more, and fixed broadband operations in 17 markets. Our global scale means that we can offer extremely competitive pricing for IoT-enabling smart cities and simplified service management. Our global SIM and global service level agreement ensures a consistently good service. Specifically in Qatar, our capabilities here include a scalable Global IoT Platform with an interactive portal for end users; global SIM
cards powered by the world’s largest network; highly secure solutions; more than 1,400 IoT experts; a broad portfolio of IoT terminals, application and service enablement development and testing and deployment – all from a single supplier, with a single contract. Taken together, these help businesses optimise operations and operational agility, innovate, and deliver better customer engagement. Vodafone has over 20 years of IoT experience. Our leading global experience in IoT connectivity and IoT solutions means that we are ideally placed to optimise business operations in a wide range of contexts, enabling businesses to innovate and deliver better operational agility and customer engagement, and helping to improve quality of life for everyone. 3. How can IoT improve spectators’ experience in future stadiums? In terms of spectators’ experiences, a ‘smart stadium’ uses technologically advanced infrastructure and digital technologies to deliver greater connectivity and create unforgettable sports experiences for sports fans. Smart stadiums are sports venues that have been designed and developed to offer a wide range of benefits – for example, high-speed broadband network connections, rich content displays, interactive technologies and more. Together these provide fans at sporting events with an end-to-end digital experience. Smart technologies can also enhance and improve the operations of a stadium. For instance, smart technology can be deployed to ensure the safety, security and integrity of a venue on match day. Such technologies can support the multitude of logistical and operational activities that are involved in the running of such venues – from ticketing, to parking, to payments and more. At Vodafone, we have over 20 years of Internet of Things experience – the technology and expertise driving smart stadiums – and we’ve previously deployed such solutions for a range of sporting events, whether in London during the Olympics or in Spain during La Liga football matches. In the Besiktas’s Vodafone Arena in Istanbul, we have the most advanced smart stadium in Turkey. Last year we signed a MOU with Vodafone Turkey which means that we’re now able to export this expertise and experience to other parts of the world, including Qatar. 4. Can you elaborate on the features of Vodafone smart stadium technology?
events and sharing more content than ever. The Beşiktaş Vodafone Arena is the perfect example of how such smart stadiums can support these growing expectations and digital behaviour. The Beşiktaş Vodafone Arena is Turkey’s first smart stadium, and provides a glimpse into the fan experience of the future. At every home game played by the Turkish Super League side, Beşiktaş JK, more than 40,000 fans have access to Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G, and 4.5G ready broadband network connections. They are able to access rich-content displays on the 850 video walls. In addition, visitors to the stadium can access a specially developed Vodafone Arena mobile application and interactive HD screens that broadcast all the content that fans dream of – including interviews, match statistics and live updates on other games. During a match played last year at the Vodafone Arena, nearly 12,000 people used a total of 413 GB data through Vodafone SuperNet 4.5G, with speeds of up to 150 Gbps and 7,000 people used a total of 785 GB data through Vodafone SuperNet Wi-Fi with speeds of up to 300 Gbps. The Vodafone arena features a unique, five layer digital infrastructure. The basis of this is the system and telecom rooms which make up the ‘digital heart’ of the smart stadium infrastructure. The second layer supporting the intelligent infrastructure is the Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G and 4.5G compatible network connections that simultaneously meet the needs of up to 50,000 visitors. The third layer comprises digital displays installed at different locations around the stadium, facilitating the broadcast of a wide range of content. The fourth layer is the Vodafone Arena App, through which we deliver rich content to fans and visitors. The final layer comprises special services designed to enhance visitors’ match-day experience through location-based services powered by beacon technology. 5. What is the main smart stadium infrastructure that is planned to be used during 2022 Qatar World Cup?
Mahmud Awad Chief Business Officer Vodafone Qatar
authorities and the large number of stakeholders involved in delivering a World Cup that fulfils the promise of a fan experience like no other. By the time the World Cup kicks off in Qatar, no other country in the region will boast as many state-of-the-art stadiums. Whether it’s solar or cooling technology, all of the stadiums will have impressive technological features that will integrate it with, and make the most of, the surrounding area. We are the ideal partner to work with organisations like the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, helping them realise the promise and the potential of the smart stadium experience. We intend to make the lessons learned from the Vodafone Arena in Turkey, as well as from our other successful smart technology projects such as the London Olympics and in Spain, available to bodies such as the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy. Qatar is building seven new stadiums and refurbishing one other. Each has its own unique characteristics, features and setting. We would not suggest that there is a ‘one size fits’ all template that can or should be applied to stadia, since each venue must be designed and tailored according to the specific groups of fans it caters to, the sports it accommodates and the operational requirements of the building and the facility. However, our experience at the Vodafone Arena provides a useful blueprint in two key areas: enhancing the fan experience and improving stadium operations. The Vodafone Arena provides a tangible model of how a stadium can provide an end-to-end digital experience – though high speed broadband network connections, rich content displays, interactive technologies and more, enabling greater connectivity and an unforgettable fan experience.
Qatar is undertaking hugely ambitious plans to deliver an amazing 2022 FIFA World Cup QatarTM, the first in the Middle East. As preparations for the World Cup accelerate, so will fans’ expectation for super-fast connectivity. The ability to share videos, pictures and messages with people online will be an important aspect of the fan experience in six years’ time. So a big part of our involvement is supporting Qatar’s
From our perspective, the concept of a smart stadium encompasses two main aspects: fan experiences and improved operations. In terms of fan experiences, a ‘smart stadium’ uses technologically advanced infrastructure and digital technologies to deliver greater connectivity and create unforgettable sports experiences for sports fans. We recognise that sports fans are increasingly tech-savvy and more connected than ever, frequently using social media to post during
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