Cisco Technology Turning on the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games

Cisco celebrates two decades of international sporting games support as they take on Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018).

Cisco Australia today announced that it’s set to turn on the Games through its highly secure and intelligent network, connecting across 1,900kms from Cairns to Coolangatta.

This sponsorship marks Cisco’s ongoing commitment, spanning two decades, in supporting international sporting games.

Announced as the official Network Hardware Sponsor for the XXI Commonwealth Games, Cisco will provide solutions to enable the connectivity from the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) Technology Operation Centre, to 18 venues, 18 media centres and 24 volunteer venues. Cisco is providing network infrastructure with scalable capability to enable high-speed transmission of critical data across a highly secure, digital platform.

GC2018 will be the biggest multisport event in Australia this decade, and the first ever to be held outside of a capital city. The Cisco network is predicted to connect 25,000 devices, providing operational Wi-Fi for 6,600 athletes and officials, and 3,500 media, enabling the sharing of video, data and information to run dedicated applications.

Offering highly secure network hardware solutions behind the scenes, Cisco will provide foundational technology elements such as firewalls, routers, switches, wireless access points that will enable the media to broadcast the action around the world - all of which is essential to the success of the Games.

Ken Boal, Vice President of Cisco Australia and New Zealand, is proud of the work that his team are delivering in the lead-up to the Games:

"The work we do behind the scenes means the athletes can take the centre stage.

"At Cisco, we have an incredible team with proven experience in delivering the network technology platforms for multiple Commonwealth & Olympic Games. This, combined with our leading technology, will help ensure the Games is a connected and inclusive event.

"Cisco will be working with GOLDOC and its other technology providers to deploy a scalable technology platform, delivering the bandwidth and connectivity required for the world to share the experience in the moment, as the action happens. Speed, quality, reliability and security are essential, and Cisco is delighted that GOLDOC has chosen Cisco to be the Network Hardware Sponsor," Mr Boal said.

GOLDOC Chairman, Peter Beattie AC welcomed Cisco to the GC2018 Sponsor Family.

"We need partners who have the experience and capability to help us deliver a really great event for athletes and spectators.

"Cisco’s extensive experience in delivering a reliable, highly secure and quality network on time for international sporting events is invaluable. Cisco’s world-class hardware solution ensures the collaboration with our other technology partners will facilitate the successful delivery and experience, for what we hope will make GC2018 the best Commonwealth Games yet," Mr Beattie said.

GOLDOC needs a highly secure network that grows as its workforce grows - from 50 staff in 2014, the organisation is set to expand to 1,500 employees when the Opening Ceremony begins on 4 April 2018. Cisco will continue working to upscale GOLDOC from a start-up operation to a global enterprise, ready for action come the Opening Ceremony in just 265 days.

ENDS

For more information, please email media@goldoc.com or contact:

Cobey Moore: +61 447 109 772

Communication and Media Lead

Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC)

Stephanie Jones: +61 481 566 386

stephanie.jones@thrivepr.com.au

Cori Drogemuller: +61 407 518 303

cdrogemu@cisco.com

Notes to Editors

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that has been making the Internet work since 1984. Our people, products, and partners help society securely connect and seize tomorrow’s digital opportunity today. Discover more at newsroom.cisco.com and follow us on Twitter at @Cisco.

Cisco, the Cisco logo, Cisco Systems and Cisco IOS are registered trademarks or trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and certain other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company. This document is Cisco Public Information.

Cisco technology by numbers:

- 280 switches

- 680 wireless access points

- 40 Routers

- 950 IP Phones

Cisco has an ongoing commitment and experience supporting global sporting events such as the Commonwealth and Olympic Games; their previous Games experience includes:

- Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games

- Rio 2016 Olympic Games

- Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games

- London 2012 Olympic Games

- Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games

- Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

- Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games

GC2018 by numbers:

- 18 venues

- 18 media centres

- 24 volunteer venues

- 265 days to go

- 1,900kms

- 3,500 media

- 6,600 athletes and officials

- 15,000 volunteers

- 1.2 million spectators

- 1.5 billion TV viewers

25 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only