Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE: HPE) today announced it has deployed an integrated private 5G and Wi-Fi network at the 2023 Ryder Cup, showcasing the future of wireless connectivity. 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 the world’s most prestigious sporting events.
The global golf event being held at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome, Italy, September 25 – October 1, presents unique connectivity challenges to the organizers. The golf course, 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 ubiquitous high-bandwidth connectivity at all times throughout the venue, the vision to deliver an innovative, state-of-the-art wireless network was paramount for organizers.
To meet the critical connectivity requirements of the Ryder Cup, HPE designed a groundbreaking 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 realization of HPE’s vision when it acquired Athonet in June 2023.
“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 in particular, 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.”