Opportunities of full-scale use are set to be demonstrated at the major Olympic site during test games in February 2011.
MegaFon and Rostelecom, General Partners of the XXII Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games of 2014 in Sochi, have successfully tested their Fourth Generation (4G) wireless data network. The system, which operates on an LTE (Long-Term Evolution) protocol, was trialed in close to the major Sochi 2014 site, Roza Khutor.
The successful 4G test in the challenging mountainous region, confirms that these leading Russian telecoms firms are ready to develop the most advanced communication technology in preparation for Sochi 2014.
The successful tests that saw data transmission rates reach 100 Mbps meaning that Sochi 2014 will benefit from 4G networks, which have over 10 times more capacity than 3G.
Dmitry Chernyshenko, President of Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, said:
“We are very interested in the benefits that modern communication technology can bring to Russia’s first Winter Games. Lightning-fast information dissemination is a reality of today’s world so it is incredibly important that we provide a high-quality service for the participants and guests of the Games, offering them a new approach to accessing the information.
“The Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee is creating a Joint Information System for the Games, and our Partners are providing the necessary communication channels.”
Sergey Soldatenkov, Chief Executive Officer of MegaFon said:
“The test launch for the 4G network has confirmed its clear advantages over any existing communication network. We will be showcasing the 4G capabilities with during the Sochi 2014 test event in Roza Khutor in February 2011 with a roll-out of full-scale LTE networks”.
According to Alexander Provotorov, General Director of Rostelecom,
“The Sochi 2014 Telecommunication Partners have a clear task to provide the highest level of telecom support during the Games. They have all the necessary resources for that, including the strategic vision for creating a perfect communication infrastructure in Sochi, which will help the Olympic host city, become internationally renowned for its telecommunications leadership.”
4G network tests were made by MegaFon and Rostelecom and supported by major global manufacturers of mobile and telecommunication equipment.
