Game on for local IT

By Candice Jones, ITWeb online telecoms editor

Johannesburg, 13 Feb 2008

FIFA has rubbished allegations by certain South African IT players that the majority of technology to be used for the 2010 Soccer World Cup tournament will be imported from international IT suppliers, and says there is still time for more local players to get involved.

A source within one of SA's top ICT companies said it, along with several other hard-hitting IT companies, had approached FIFA with a bid to supply technology for the event. He said all the companies involved in the meeting had been brushed off, because "FIFA's policy is to import technology from international suppliers". This includes technology for ticketing, ticket readers, turnstiles, among others, he stated.

However, FIFA says its policy is to develop a technology legacy-base in each country that hosts the Soccer World Cup. "Currently, the focus for local partnership is to ensure the alignment with our commercial affiliates in SA," said FIFA media officer Delia Fischer.

The organisation says it will import certain technologies to bolster the local implementations by South African partners. Confirmed partners for 2010 include MTN, Telkom, Sony Ericsson and Satyam Sony - an India-based organisation with local operations.

"There are strategic IT elements that FIFA will be leveraging as part of a broader solution it implements for all of its events, which includes the systems used for event management for all FIFA events."

According to Fischer, these technologies will provide support and continuity for technology provisions worldwide for 2010: "FIFA believes that leveraging these systems for 2010 will provide a common foundation as with other FIFA events, and minimise the risk in delivery in these key areas. This will ensure consistent services to all of its key constituents during the event period."

The organisation lists key services as volunteer management, transportation, travel and protocol services.

Local game-plan

FIFA will primarily use local infrastructure that is enabled by local partners to support the FIFA delegation, said Fischer.

"We are working with MTN and Telkom to create a strategy to leverage their products and services to the greatest amount possible. This includes mobile data and telephony services from MTN and fixed-line voice and data, as well as domestic hosting from Telkom," she added.

Along with MTN and Telkom, Sony and Sony Ericsson will supply all forms of hardware required for the event, she said. "These include laptops and mobile phones, as well as other components from the Sony product line to support the 'digital life' experience of FIFA users."

Satyam is to develop and support a full event management system. "Its global support infrastructure will ensure a seamless system support model for all components of these systems during all times during the event," Fischer explained.

Certain to score

There are still opportunities for the South African IT industry to be involved in 2010, she said. "Although FIFA focuses on leveraging the commercial affiliates' products and services to the greatest extent possible, there will still be 'gaps' in the delivery model that will need to be supported by companies in the South African IT market."

She said these spaces will be assessed over the next few months and local partners and suppliers will be chosen to fill them. "It is critical that we integrate the South African perspective into the delivery model and this can only be done through formal relationships with leaders in the South African IT market. This approach will also aid in meeting the need to establish a legacy in these areas and insure the impact on the IT influence of the event is maintained after the final match for 2010."

FIFA and the local organising committee are engaging closely with the government and telecommunication providers to ensure the IT requirements are met, Fischer said. "We are confident SA will meet the requirements in bandwidth and general connectivity standards for both television and operational Internet connectivity. This will be a lasting legacy for the South African industry beyond 2010."