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Sunaina Rana / Emirates Business
F1 races are all about micro-second details and it’s the data connectivity that shapes the fate of the race in terms of decisive factors to declare the winners. Tata Communications is the backbone behind this network at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Similar to this, Tata Comms enables various regional enterprises ranging from financial, media services etc. with robust data and networking
infrastructure. Tata Communications has enabled innovations across multiple spheres of the business of Formula One Management (FOM). This partnership is a true culmination of the company’s pursuit for excellence in innovation, the capabilities of Tata’s network and the expertise of delivering extreme reliability and security. Emirates Business, talks to Mehul Kapadia Vice President, F1 Business and Product Marketing, Tata Communications, regarding its
venture with Formula 1.
In what capacity and for how long has Tata been working with
Formula 1?
This year, Tata Communications celebrates four years as the Official Connectivity Provider of Formula 1. In 2012, Tata Communications started working with Formula One Management (FOM) to deliver world-class connectivity to all Formula 1 race locations, and to provide hosting and content delivery services for Formula1.com, which is accessed by tens of millions of fans across the globe during the race season.
Since then, Tata Communications has increased connectivity speeds at each race by a factor of ten. This is possible thanks to Tata Communications’ wholly-owned subsea cable network, the largest in the world, providing connectivity to more than 240 countries and territories. This aligns perfectly with Formula 1, whose races take place all over the world – sometimes in remote and challenging locations.
During race weekends, the Tata Communications’ team is always hard at work. A vast amount of real-time data is consumed by up to seven million fans simultaneously in 188 countries. The Formula1.com website typically sees huge spikes in visitor numbers, with as much as 100 times more traffic than normal over a race weekend, from a multitude of devices. For FOM, there is no such thing as service level agreement (SLA) and coverage must be 100% at all times.
In your partnership with FOM, what have you done that’s changed the sport?
Since 2012, as the Official Connectivity Provider of Formula 1, as well as the Official Web Hosting and Content Delivery Network Provider of Formula1.com, Tata Communications has powered Formula 1 to seamlessly reach out to its tens of millions of fans across the globe with a complete end-to-end solution. This has included setting up a trackside data centre at each race location in two days and dismantling it in just three hours, a process that would traditionally take weeks.
Tata Communications is also fostering the next phase in the evolution of F1 through our F1 Connectivity Innovation Prize: a global platform engaging international brainpower to find the next innovation to change the face of F1.
Can you explain the set up for each race?
Formula 1 races occur in some of the most diverse and challenging environments across the globe, from the streets of Monaco to the deserts of Bahrain. No matter how difficult or remote the terrain, every race has to be connected to the rest of the world and fans everywhere. Tata Communications play a key role in the amazing feat of logistics and organisation that is involved in setting up the trackside operations. Temporary 100Mb MPLS circuits are installed, configured, and tested at each location in just one week (traditionally takes 30 days). As a feat of networking, it’s the equivalent of changing a tyre in under four seconds. A dedicated race implementation team is there on every race weekend, dealing with the unpredictable and ensuring delivery every day. Detailed planning and on-the-ground flexibility ensure that connections are always available, avoiding even a second of downtime for these essential networks.
What is the purpose of the new F1 Paddock Club?
The F1 Paddock Club in Manama is an extension of the worldwide reputed corporate hospitality outfit network that was founded in 1983 by entrepreneur Paddy McNally who was previously a trackside advertising salesman.
He was led by F1’s chief executive Bernie Ecclestone who had a vision of big-spending blue chip corporations which would sponsor his series due to its accelerating exposure. They would need entertaining in a business-to-business environment and at the time there was nothing like it in F1 or its auto racing rivals.
Extending this world-renowned club to the Bahrain reaffirms the growth foreseen in the Middle East region automotive and entertainment industry. We have witnessed the F1’s growth and are certain that this club will be the premiere source for
meetings and business.
What led to FOM and Tata Comm collaboration?
Formula 1 racing is the most technologically advanced sport on the planet, where every tenth of a second defines the difference between winning and losing, superior connectivity and content delivery networks are critical components in the quest to win world championships. This extreme environment is fertile ground for innovation, creativity and smart use of new technologies – and this is what Tata Communications brings to the sport as the Official Connectivity Provider to Formula 1.
F1 is known for being a test-bed for industries beyond the track, particularly consumer vehicles.
What investment has gone into the data network to make it what it is?
Tata Communications is the only connectivity provider to maintain a complete fibre-optic ring around the world. This allows us to connect content creators, broadcasters and audiences around the world faster and more reliably than any other operator, and we continue to build on and improve that capability.
We continue to invest in making our network faster and more reliable. In 2014, Tata Communications unveiled IZO, a global network platform designed to make global connectivity more predictable and reliable than ever, readying it for the growing demand for data such as video across the network.
In addition to making our network faster and more reliable, Tata Communications is expanding connectivity to new regions. We recently announced a billion dollar investment to expand our internet routes, particularly in India and other
developing markets.
How has data got so much faster?
In the past two decades, we’ve seen more data squeezed into smaller packets, making it easier to send across networks.
We’ve seen massive advancements in the networks themselves through expanding fibre optic capabilities, and new technologies and approaches such as software-defined networking which allow the network to handle data more intelligently and consequently more quickly — think of it like moving a car from a dirt track road to motorway (or a racetrack) — any car will go faster
because it has a clear path.
How quickly is this technology evolving and are we even getting the most out of it yet?
We are only at the beginning of a huge growth phase in internet usage, so the technology must evolve rapidly. Around 80 percent of the world’s population is predicted to be online by 2025, up from around 30 percent today.
We are also seeing the diversification of traffic types as more content is consumed; more devices are also being connected to the internet all of the time. All of this means the network must evolve in a way that supports this demand for extra capacity, while providing a predictable and secure connection anywhere around in the world.
Taking into considering these changes, what are the tangible
benefits for enterprises to
consider when investing in content distribution?
In this hyper-competitive market, many media organizations, creative groups, production houses, distributors, broadcasters, and retailers are having trouble keeping pace. That’s where we can help. We offer a complete spectrum of innovative services to help you stay productive and focused on your core business.
As a global leader in communications with the world’s largest undersea fibre cable network and satellite uplink facilities, we can be your competitive edge. Whether it’s a live concert or a historic moment, we can promise maximum uptime, global reach and security.
10. Future of broadcasting, what are the possibilities, what are you learning?
Future and possibilities
The possibilities for the future of broadcasting are endless, but we’ve learnt that the future of viewing is in personalisation – sports and content creators need to be able to allow viewers to watch their broadcasts in whichever way they choose. Whether that’s on a mobile phone at the park, a big screen in their living room or, who knows, one day soon, a virtual reality headset.
With this in mind, Tata Communications is working with Formula One Management to deliver new ways for fans to engage with the sport
• In 2014 we demonstrated the first live 4K feed from a Formula 1 event during a practice session at the Singapore Grand Prix
• On Formula 1.com Tata Communications’ Content Delivery Network has provided more than 67 million fans with video and live race data, hosting more than 100 times its normal traffic on race days
• This year Tata Communications announced that we are the connectivity partner Red Bull Media House, a content production house with the goal of providing innovative new viewing experiences to audiences around the world
Tata Communications’ complete end-to-end solution allows the delivery of the right set of broadcasting services for everyone involved – improving the viewing experience for the millions of fans.The quality and flexibility of the data transferred via the Tata Communications network makes it possible for broadcasters to effectively monetise their rights, whilst providing viewers with unrivalled coverage of the races.
Tata Communications’ high speed digital network and ecosystem of media services ensures that broadcasters can deliver uninterrupted and high quality content across the globe.
Underpinned by its fibre backbone and powered by innovative cloud services, Tata Communications allows broadcasters to deliver innovative and multi-format feeds to content-hungry audiences.
