The Paris Olympics 2024 brought together spectators, athletes, media personnel, and various stakeholders, all of whom required seamless internet connectivity. Orange, the sole connectivity provider for the event, rose to the challenge, delivering exceptional network performance and innovative technologies. This monumental event not only showcased the sporting talents of athletes from around the world but also underscored the critical importance of reliable and robust connectivity in today’s digital age. With an enormous responsibility on their shoulders, Orange established a comprehensive and dedicated infrastructure to ensure that everyone present could enjoy uninterrupted, high-quality internet services, setting a new benchmark in event connectivity.
Throughout the duration of the Olympics, Orange was tasked with providing connectivity across multiple venues, each presenting its own unique set of challenges. The sheer volume of data traffic generated during the Games far exceeded any previous records on their network. Bertrand Rojat, the Chief Technical and Information Officer at Orange Events, highlighted the enormity of the task, noting that the data traffic observed during the Games was unprecedented. This required a meticulously planned and executed infrastructure capable of handling such massive volumes of data. From the opening ceremony to the final competitive events, Orange’s network performance remained flawless, demonstrating both the company’s technological prowess and its ability to adapt under pressure.
The Enormity of the Task
One of the standout moments of Orange’s network performance took place during the Rugby final at Stade de France, where, in just one hour, the network managed an astounding 2 terabytes of data without any disruptions. This feat was a testament to Orange’s robust and resilient setup, a performance that was humorously remarked upon by Rojat, who suggested that both France and Orange deserved gold medals for their performances. This level of network performance was mirrored during other high-profile events, such as French swimmer Leon Marchand’s gold-winning 200-meter butterfly swim, where spectators across various venues accumulated over 100 terabytes of data. These figures underscore the robustness and reliability of Orange’s network, which handled extensive data traffic seamlessly and efficiently.
Providing connectivity for a multifaceted event like the Olympics involves far more than just ensuring internet for spectators. It requires a detailed approach to managing various types of network demands across different venues and events. Bertrand Rojat’s observations reflect the immense scale and complexity of the task, which stretched Orange’s capabilities to new limits. The successful management of such high data traffic volumes, particularly during peak times at major events, highlighted Orange’s preparedness and the effectiveness of their planning and execution. The results were evident, as athletes, media personnel, and spectators enjoyed glitch-free connectivity that enhanced their overall event experience.
Deployment of Private 5G Networks
Orange’s success was not confined to just public connectivity; the company made significant strides in deploying private networks for more specific and mission-critical needs. Throughout the Games, a total of 21 cells were established across five sites on private 5G networks. This included 12 cells dedicated to the opening ceremony, three at Marseille Marina for the sailing competition, and four at Stade de France for athletics. The deployment of these private networks was integral to the event’s success, ensuring that specific applications requiring high bandwidth and low latency were efficiently managed without impacting the general public network.
The private 5G networks played a vital role in facilitating real-time applications that were crucial for media and operational purposes. For instance, photographers utilized around 40 devices on the private network to transfer approximately 20,000 photos to press agencies within a single week. This allowed for immediate access to high-quality images, ensuring timely updates for the global audience. Additionally, a private network supported the streaming of video and images from 200 Galaxy S24 smartphones during the opening ceremony, thus underpinning broadcast services and ensuring smooth and uninterrupted live feeds. The success of this setup was evident, prompting the continued use of the private network for the closing ceremony as well.
Advanced Communication Services
Another critical component of Orange’s impressive connectivity solutions was their Push-to-Talk (PTT) service. This service was designed to connect 13,000 devices using tailored accessories over a priority 4G network, and it efficiently managed simultaneous connections for between 6,000 to 7,000 devices. This marked a first for the network in handling such a large volume of concurrent connections, underscoring Orange’s capability to introduce and manage complex communication services during large-scale events. The PTT service played an instrumental role in maintaining essential communication channels, facilitating smooth operations across the various event locations.
The implementation of the PTT service highlighted Orange’s innovative approaches to overcoming the communication challenges posed by the Olympics. The ability to connect thousands of devices simultaneously ensured that event operations, security personnel, and other crucial stakeholders remained in constant touch, which was essential for the coordination and successful execution of the various events. This not only enhanced the operational efficiency but also ensured that any potential issues could be swiftly addressed. The seamless integration of this service showcased Orange’s prowess in delivering advanced communication solutions, further solidifying their position as a leading provider of event connectivity.
Time Constraints and Rapid Deployment
Despite the impressive achievements, the Paris Olympics presented significant time constraints for Orange. Rojat noted that while the scale of the Olympics was comparable to the company’s role in providing connectivity for the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC), the games demanded a rapid deployment with limited preparatory time. In many instances, Orange only gained access to certain venues ten days before the events, necessitating a quick adaptation and implementation strategy. This scenario required Orange to be extremely agile and flexible, particularly in managing both mobile and fiber network components to ensure seamless connectivity across all sites.
The company’s ability to swiftly adapt and deploy their infrastructure within such tight timeframes is a testament to their agility and technical acumen. Despite the limited preparation time, Orange was able to ensure that network services were fully operational and capable of handling the high demands of the Olympics. This rapid deployment and the flexibility in managing both mobile and fiber network components played a crucial role in overcoming the time constraints, ensuring that all stakeholders, from athletes to media personnel, had the connectivity they needed throughout the event. This ability to quickly and efficiently respond to the challenging conditions of the Olympics further underscored Orange’s commitment to providing top-notch connectivity solutions.
Industry Praise and Future Implications
The Paris Olympics 2024 united spectators, athletes, media, and diverse stakeholders, all requiring seamless internet connectivity. Orange, the exclusive connectivity provider, met this challenge by delivering exceptional network performance and innovative technologies. This significant event not only highlighted the athletic talents of participants worldwide but also emphasized the crucial role of reliable connectivity in today’s digital age. Given the immense responsibility, Orange established a comprehensive infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted, high-quality internet services for everyone, setting a new standard in event connectivity.
Throughout the Olympics, Orange stayed committed to providing connectivity across multiple venues, each with unique challenges. The data traffic generated during the Games shattered previous records, as Bertrand Rojat, Chief Technical and Information Officer at Orange Events, pointed out. This necessitated a meticulously planned and executed network capable of managing enormous data volumes. From the opening ceremony to the last competitive event, Orange’s network performance was flawless, showcasing the company’s technological expertise and its agility under pressure.
