Hewlett Packard has deployed an integrated private 5G and Wi-Fi network at the 2023 Ryder Cup that will ensure a seamless, high-speed internet experience for organisers and fans at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome.
Combining the private 5G technology of Athonet, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise acquisition, and HPE Aruba Networking’s Wi-Fi technology for the first time will deliver new ultra-secure capabilities, greatly expanded coverage, and enhanced fan and staff experiences at an unprecedented scale at one of golf’s biggest international showpiece events.
The 2023 Ryder Cup, which is being held from September 25 – October 1, presents unique connectivity challenges to the organisers. The golf course at Marco Simone, which covers 370 acres of archaeologically protected countryside, has been transformed into one of the world’s largest temporary sports stadiums that is set to host 250,000 spectators during the event. With fans and event staff requiring high-bandwidth connectivity throughout the venue, the vision to deliver a state-of-the-art wireless network was paramount for organisers.
To meet the critical connectivity requirements of the Ryder Cup, HPE designed a ground-breaking integrated Wi-Fi and private 5G network. Wi-Fi predominantly provides the high-capacity connectivity required for thousands of fans congregating in popular areas. Private 5G provides wide-area coverage to more remote parts of the golf course, as well as a secure private network dedicated to critical operations staff. A network design like this provides a preview into the future of private networking and is an early realisation of HPE’s vision when it acquired Athonet in June.
“Each Ryder Cup gives us an opportunity to push the boundaries of technological innovation to maximize the fan experience, so it is really exciting to be breaking genuinely new ground with the combination of world-class Wi-Fi and private 5G technology,” said Michael Cole, chief technology officer of the European Tour group and Ryder Cup Europe. “Private 5G brings huge operational benefits, providing us with a fully private network that will be unaffected by the crowd’s high demand for high-bandwidth applications. It gives us full course coverage for cellular devices providing critical services like security, stewarding, ticketing, and scoring that might have otherwise relied on the under pressure local telecoms networks.”
Phil Mottram, executive vice president & general manager, HPE Aruba Networking, said: “When we announced our acquisition of Athonet earlier this year, our goal was to become the global leader in private 5G solutions, and the Ryder Cup is a perfect opportunity to showcase how our Wi-Fi and private 5G innovations work together to achieve that goal.
“This is a perfect showcase for the integration of private 5G and Wi-Fi in a challenging environment, with private 5G providing extended range and reliability for operations staff, while Wi-Fi 6E provides high-capacity connectivity to thousands of fans concentrated in core areas.”