Dimension Data deploys comms for SA Tennis Open

Dimension Data, the $4 billion specialist IT services and solution provider, revealed its integral role in providing the technology that will connect the SA Tennis Open with its global audience.
Dimension Data has laid a complete end to end infrastructure at the event base, which begins at Montecasino in Johannesburg on Monday 1 February 2010. A temporary infrastructure has been laid down in two venues at the casino. From these two venues – the ballroom and La Toscana – tournament administrators, player representatives, sponsors, officials and the world’s sporting press will be able to connect with audiences all over the world through their match reports, live transmissions, interviews and press conferences. SA Tennis will also use these facilities as an administrative base from which to run the event.

Nicholas Shaw, general manager for Advanced Infrastructure at Dimension Data Middle East & Africa, says the company is delighted to be involved in a prestigious international sporting event. “Dimension Data has been a key player in the provision of converged real estate solutions in five of the coastal stadia across South Africa. The SA Tennis Open however is a different technology implementation for us – literally building an advanced technology platform that provides world class communications capabilities for sophisticated, deadline-driven users who expect a very high level of technology functionality, completely from scratch.

“The range and scope of this deployment have utilised the full breadth of Dimension Data’s technology expertise. We’ve deployed all the elements of our business, from Advanced Infrastructure to the Internet capabilities of Internet Solutions, to provide a robust, agile and responsive infrastructure platform for the event, building in high levels of reliability and quality of service. From cabling to the network kit to WAN connectivity, we’ve provided it all,” Says Shaw.

The temporary back offices equipped by Dimension Data will provide about 100 points from which officials, administrators and accredited members of the local and international press will be able to connect. Dimension Data is also working in collaboration with Telkom and will be able to extend fax and telephone lines within the two allocated venues.

This is the second year Dimension Data has partnered with the SA Tennis Open event to put on a sporting event of international calibre.