Unique Round-the-World Sailing Regatta Relies on Cisco Communications Infrastructure and Data Center Technology
BARCELONA, Spain – March 25, 2011 – Cisco announced that it is supplying communications technology for the Barcelona World Race, the only sailing regatta that challenges teams to sail around the world nonstop with only two crew members.
The Ocean Navigation Foundation of Barcelona chose Cisco to provide communications infrastructure and data center technology for the duration of the event, which started on December 31, 2010, and runs until the end of March 2011. The data center serves as the nerve center of the race, receiving the positions of the boats, images and videos, as well as responding to emergency calls. Rescue centers worldwide are connected to the data center, which allows them to have immediate access to information on the boats.
“A technological supplier with the reputation of Cisco provides highly secure 24-hour communications. Its technology and experience are essential both for the Ocean Navigation Foundation of Barcelona and for the sponsors of the Barcelona World Race. Without this technology it would be impossible to follow the competition,” said Román Welsch, the director of technology for the foundation and race.
“The technology architecture is designed to help ensure the availability of communication at all times between the boats and the organisation,” Welsch explains. “We are the 061 (healthcare emergency service number) of the regatta, and we have to be capable of receiving rescue calls from the boats as well as forwarding calls to the marine rescue center closest to any boat in a state of emergency.”
The platform is based on two Cisco Catalyst® 4500E Series Switches and a Cisco Unified Communications solution, deployed to provide the event organisers and participants with integrated voice, video and data services. The data center includes Cisco 2960 and 3750 Series Switches, and two Cisco MDS fibre switches for the data cabins.
“Thanks to Cisco switching technology, we are capable of receiving, editing and producing in record time the information that comes from the boats — photos, videos and video conferences — and in this way they reach our webpage, game tracking and all the ensuing communication media,” Welsch states.
During the race, Cisco is also providing free availability to the Wi-Fi network, based on the Cisco 4400 Series Wireless LAN Controllers, over the entire port of Barcelona. In a centralised infrastructure, the access points work in coordination, facilitating wireless access and management functions, providing access to different mobile devices, and equipping them with advanced security and localisation.
“In a competition such as the Barcelona World Race, it is critical that there is the highest level of availability and reliability of communications and data,” said Jesús Mansilla, director of Medium and Small Businesses for Cisco España. “We are delighted to be part of this important sporting event.”
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