This is part of BT’s role as the official communications services partner for London 2012. BT is delivering a converged voice, video and data network for London 2012, the first time this has been done for a Summer Games.
The announcement comes after a successful summer of London 2012 test events, as part of the London Prepares series, where LOCOG is testing crucial aspects of its operations. BT successfully delivered hosted voice services to the international beach volleyball, sailing, swimming, road cycling, basketball, BMX and badminton competitions over this period.
LOCOG’s live testing programme focuses primarily on testing the services located across the venues such as in field of play, front of house and back of house areas, as well as key operational procedures and functions. The test programme will continue through until May 2012.
The hosted voice service, based on Cisco’s Hosted Unified Communications Services (HUCS) platform, has been used successfully on live test events for London 2012 which have been under way since the end of May 2011.
More than 16,500 handsets will be deployed across all 94 LOCOG and London 2012 sites ahead of the opening ceremony, providing essential coverage with “follow-me” numbers to support communications across the organisation.
Gerry Pennell, Chief Information Officer for LOCOG, said: “Preparing for the London 2012 Games requires enormous flexibility and scalability to deliver to the Organising Committee’s demanding operational requirements. BT, supported by CISCO’s technology, continues to demonstrate an excellent understanding of our complex and fast-moving environment and is focusing on delivering a service that is mission-critical for the Organising Committee from now up to and including the Games in 2012.”
Stuart Hill, BT vice-president for Central Government and London 2012, said: “During Games-time BT networks will carry images and TV pictures from the Games, along with millions of calls, emails and texts. As part of making London 2012 the most connected Games ever, our hosted voice services are perfect for LOCOG because they provide the ability to grow quickly – in fact we are able to install 1,000 users in one day, offering a seamless voice service from start to finish.”
Neil Crockett, managing director, London 2012 for Cisco UK and Ireland, said: “The service is based on an operating expenditure model and offers the flexibility, low risk, and cost control required by LOCOG as they continue their journey to London 2012. For Cisco, this announcement yet again demonstrates to our customers some of the many ways in which we can help businesses transform themselves through increased efficiency whilst reducing costs using our technologies.”
The hosted voice system will give LOCOG the ability to add and remove contacts and mailboxes quickly, as well as access conferencing. The service will also connect all National Olympic Committees attending the Games to LOCOG and provide a tool that allows LOCOG to see their live usage rather than waiting for the bills. Number extension mobility features mean that hot desk users in LOCOG can log in at any phone and have their full profile and settings available.
To celebrate the successful installation of one of the largest hosted voice solutions in Europe, BT is also announcing a special Hosted Unified Communications Services offer to help UK businesses address their capital expenditure challenges by reducing the purchase cost of IP user licences.