Extreme Networks has announced it has been selected as the official WiFi solutions provider for the historic Olympiastadion Berlin in Germany. Together with long-standing partner PKN Datenkommunikations, and in preparation for the 2024 European Football Championship (EURO 2024), Extreme will deploy a high-performance WiFi 6 network that meets the Union of European Football Associations’ (UEFA) stringent venue and networking infrastructure requirements.
Olympiastadion Berlin, part of the Berlin Olympic Park, was opened on August 1, 1936. It is one of the largest stadiums in Germany for international football matches and one of the world’s most prestigious and versatile venues for sporting and entertainment events. This will be the first and largest public WiFi 6 deployment in a European stadium, allowing the venue to meet the most demanding connectivity requirements of spectators, staff and media attending football tournaments, concerts and international sporting events for years to come. It will also support mission-critical operations and back-of-house systems.
The key benefits are:
High-Performance WiFi for Enhanced Fan Experience: With ExtremeSwitching and more than 1,000 ExtremeWireless access points deployed throughout the 74,475-seat stadium and surrounding area, Olympiastadion Berlin can ensure seamless, secure WiFi connectivity and stronger connections for real-time social media sharing, video streaming and mobile app usage, including point of sale applications and mobile ticketing.
Secure, Scalable Connectivity: Extreme Fabric Connect, a powerful and flexible solution to design, build, manage and troubleshoot networks, provides a simple, agile way for IT to deploy new services. This includes the automatic configuration of new access points and the ability to segment the network to secure the experience of business users and fans. ExtremeGuest onboarding and analytics software will provide spectators with seamless access to guest Wi-Fi services with a simple login process and built-in social media integrations.
Simplified Network Management & Maintenance: Extreme on-premises management software will enable Olympiastadion Berlin to manage its infrastructure via a single pane of glass across virtualised and cloud environments, providing the IT team with full visibility of the network and simplifying the process to deploy, scale, and manage services, thereby delivering improved uptime.
Real-time Insights and Analytics: ExtremeAnalytics software will deliver granular visibility into how users, device and applications interact with the WiFi network. Access to such vital visitor data will allow Olympiastadion Berlin to gain valuable usage insights and optimise network capabilities to enhance experiences for spectators and staff.
Timo Rohwedder, CEO, Olympiastadion Berlin GmbH, said, “A key requirement for state-of-the-art venues like ours is reliable, fast and secure wireless network connectivity for tens of thousands of simultaneous users. Extreme has an outstanding pedigree when it comes to solutions and services that deliver safe, high-quality, connected in-venue experiences and they fully met our high expectations. With our new, high-density WiFi 6 network, we can introduce new advanced technologies such as touchless and cashless payment systems, and are set to continue welcoming some of the biggest names in sport and entertainment to our venue while offering visitors an incredible experience all around.”
Ed Meyercord, President and Chief Executive Officer, Extreme Networks, said, “Our networking solutions provide the foundation for incredible fan experiences in stadiums all around the world. Olympiastadion Berlin is an iconic venue and will benefit from a state-of-the-art WiFi 6 network that enriches the fan experience while being simple to manage, operate and scale. We are honored to have been chosen as Olympiastadion Berlin’s official WiFi solutions provider and are excited to help the venue elevate the digital experience at live entertainment and sporting events.”
