Satyam bags FIFA IT contract

By Damaria Senne, ITWeb senior journalist

Johannesburg, 26 Nov 2007

FIFA has officially signed Indian IT giant Satyam as its World Cup IT service provider for the next seven years.

The $2.7 billion IT company takes over from Avaya, which provided IT support for the 2002 Korea/Japan and 2006 German games.

Announcing the deal at the 2010 kick-off, in Durban on Saturday, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said Satyam will provide the core IT event management system for FIFA and its service partner for IT accommodation and hospitality.

Satyam will also provide IT services for the local organising committees for the SA and Brazil tournaments in the next seven years.

The software backbone includes an IT help-desk at all the stadiums, manned by volunteers, and a central help-desk to provide assistance. It also includes the building of the intranet and extranet for FIFA.

Neither FIFA nor Satyam would disclose the value of the deal. However, the contract covers the 2010 World Cup Soccer Tournament in SA, as well as the 2014 World Cup Soccer Tournament in Brazil.

The two event cycles include the FIFA Confederation Cup Tournaments, with the one leading up to the 2010 games taking place in 2009.

"It is a complex deal, as it includes an IT services provider segment and the sponsorship segment," says Keshab Panda, Satyam's head of energy and utilities and Europe operations.

"It is a real partnership between two teams, working worldwide, and I am very happy to welcome Satyam to the group of FIFA's World Cup partners," Blatter said.

Impact of contract

<B>Other ICT sponsors and supporters</B>

Satyam is FIFA World Cup Soccer sponsor and IT service provider. This deal makes Satyam the first Indian company to become a FIFA World Cup sponsor.
Telkom is national supporter of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
MTN has global rights to the Soccer World Cup 2010 in SA Africa, as well as to the Confederations Cup in 2009. This sponsorship deal makes MTN the first African company to become a FIFA World Cup sponsor.
Hyundai's sponsorship contract holds until 2014. Announced on 6 April 2005, the sponsorship contract runs from 2007 to 2014 and the contract value (excluding services and product leases) is $305 million.
Sony is the sponsor of the digital life category, which is to be established in 2007. Digital life covers a range of business activities from electronics to entertainment, FIFA says on its Web site.
Electronic Arts has signed up from 2007 to 2014 as the worldwide exclusive FIFA licensee in the product category of interactive football/soccer player, manager and fantasy software games. This applies to all delivery methods including console platforms, mobile phones and online formats, FIFA says.

Panda says Satyam's involvement in FIFA World Cup soccer sponsorships is part of its growth strategy in the media and entertainment arena.

Most of the work will be done in India, where Satyam will have an IT command centre, Panda adds. However, there will be a core team based at the IT command centre in SA.

Satyam has operations in 55 countries, with strong operations in SA and Brazil, he notes. The company has 200 employees in SA, servicing local customers including government departments and companies in the financial sector.

"The visibility and branding that comes from the FIFA contract will also help us grow our business in SA."

Panda says Satyam has seen strong growth globally, with 42% growth in revenue in the past year.