The R&A and Cisco have announced a new multi-year partnership focused on delivering critical AI networking infrastructure to organizations and their iconic championships.
As the official network supplier to the R&A and its championships, Cisco will bring its AI-enabled secure network architecture to The Open and AIG Women’s Open, as well as to the R&A’s new global headquarters in St. Andrews, Scotland, opening later this year.
This deployment will provide fans at championship venues with secure, reliable end-to-end connectivity while providing organizational stakeholders with the tools they need to support world-class experiences through broadcasting, scoring, facility management and more. The R&A’s purpose is to open up golf to the world and we are committed to uniting, inspiring and leading golf around the world through a range of initiatives. Cisco’s AI-enabled network infrastructure and advanced solutions ensure The R&A remains a global leader in sports, including:
- We offer Cisco secure networking to help R&A meet the growing demands of the AI era, including increased bandwidth requirements from new AI applications and future device loads.
- Bringing high-speed, high-performance wireless to the world’s most prestigious golf championship to ensure connectivity and security for critical functions such as scoring, broadcast, media, and facilities management.
- Fans on-site at the Open and AIG Women’s Open will benefit from enhanced Wi-Fi throughout the course, including high-traffic areas such as concessions and merchandise sales.
- Modernizing and future-proofing The R&A’s new world headquarters will help the organization continue to deliver on its mission to strengthen and sustain the game of golf.
- It provides R&A with visibility and insight across its digital footprint, allowing it to monitor networks, crowd flows and facility operations in real-time, identifying problems before they occur and remediating them instantly if necessary.
Neil Armitt, Chief Commercial Officer at The R&A, said: “Cisco’s expertise and world-leading technology will help strengthen the foundations that underpin our championship and our organization. From supporting critical technology operations at the Open and AIG Women’s Open to enhancing connectivity for fans, broadcasters, players and media, this partnership will help us deliver a world-class experience while ensuring safety, resilience and future-readiness.”
As we prepare to open our new global headquarters in St. Andrews later this year, Cisco will also play a key role in creating a modern, connected workplace for our staff and stakeholders. Together, we are investing in infrastructure and innovation that supports our long-term objective of opening up golf to the world. ”
At the 154th British Open, to be held July 12-19 at Royal Birkdale, an all-Cisco network will provide the championship’s technical backbone across routing, switching, wireless and network security. Approximately 1,000 Cisco Wireless access points, including Cisco Wireless Wi-Fi 7 access points in the media center and other priority areas, allow guests to enjoy a seamless connectivity experience no matter where they are on the course.
The R&A’s new global headquarters for staff, based in St Andrews, will also feature Cisco’s AI-enabled secure network architecture, enabling the organization to work faster, secure and simplify its operations, and scale to support future device loads and AI applications.
“As AI transforms every industry, sports organizations need the right technology foundation to leverage its full potential,” added Gordon Thomson, President, Cisco EMEA. “Together with The R&A, Cisco is proud to help create a more connected, safe and intelligent future for golf – one that honors the game’s heritage and embraces what’s next.”
