GOOD SPORT. Bringing rugby action to the living room

Super Rugby franchise team, The Sharks, had a scintillating 12-10 win over reigning European champions, RC Toulon, on February 5, at the Stade Mayol, in France. Live coverage of the historic rugby match, the first clash between rugby union club teams from the northern and southern hemispheres, was beamed to eight leading broadcasters across five continents by Tata Communications.

As the official International Connectivity Provider for The Master’s Rugby, the company ensured that the live match could be viewed in 100 countries, due to its wholly owned subsea network. Initial estimates had suggested that the match could have 20 million viewers given its wide reach.

The gala game between two of the current top clubs in the world of rugby saw the South African Super Rugby Sharks win over two time European Cup champions Toulon. The win has ensured that two former sportsmen, Jean Deysel and Michael Claassens, (the latter currently plays for Toulon in the French Top 14) are to return to the Sharks team for the 2015 Super Rugby season.

For the telecom firm, the live rugby broadcast built on its existing heritage in sports broadcasting. It is the official connectivity provider of Formula 1, and ensures that F1 motor racing seamlessly reaches millions of fans across the globe.

Sports broadcasting turned out to be a crucial focus area for the company. As Claude Sassoulas, MD Europe, of the company says, “Our role as the official international connectivity provider for Toulon versus The Sharks is an example of our commitment to provide the best broadcast experience to viewers across the globe...we are expertly placed to deliver crystal clear live video coverage of fast paced sports events, anywhere in the world.”

With over 300 hotspots across 125 countries, Tata Communications provided uninterrupted video distribution live from the Stade Mayol stadium in Toulon, France. As a media expert pointed out, Tata Communications has provided F1 with race site connectivity, content delivery, web hosting and professional services since 2012.

While the Indian company tends to benefit from the exposure they get through F1, similar sporting events allow the firm to use each sport as a test bed for new technical developments. Last year’s Singapore Grand Prix is a case in point, since Tata Communications conducted a successful trial of its 4k data system.

At a practice session at the 2014 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, live footage was delivered over Tata Communications’ Global Video Connect Network, to Formula One Management’s technical headquarters in Biggin Hill, UK.

Typically, Tata Communications provides 120 megabits per second (mbps) for Jpeg 2000. During the Biggin Hill showcase, Tata Communications provided 500 mbps for a single feed, made possible due to the company’s global video connect network.