By Hu Hongjun
With the increasing importance of technology in Olympics, larger scales of competition and more dispersed venues and sites, more and more new communications technology are being applied in the organization and management of the Olympic Games.
Introducing Internet into the organization and management and broadcasting of the games for the first time, the 1996 Atlantic Olympics transformed the host city to be the second largest communications city in America; the 2000 Sydney Olympics used telecommunications extensively for the first time, with a largest communications network in the history of Olympic Games ---the Telstra's Millennium Network, built by the sole Olympics telecommunication provider: Telstra; in Athens 2004, telecommunications service integrated with the internet: in May of the year, Athens Olympics sponsor Cosmote Mobile Telecom introduced new mobile digital data business --- 3G service, providing convenience for thousands of audience. Communication support and service will play an even more important role in the upcoming Beijing Olympics. In the press conference held recently about the Olympic telecommunications service and support, Xi Guohua, vice minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), said, "We have the confidence and the ability to contribute to the success of the Beijing Olympics with premium-quality and high-level communications support and service." The communications industry in China has done solid and careful preparation for Olympics communication service and support, with all the communication support works ready.
In the organization and preparation of the Beijing Olympic Games, communications support and service play a vital role. Modern information communication technology is an essential support in not only games organization and instruction coordination, but also news releases, transference of television broadcasting signals, or even score-timing and speed and distance-measuring.
The ability to utilize advanced technology to insure secure and accountable information communication network, and convenient, effective information communication business and service is not only a demonstration of "high-tech Olympics", but also an important symbol of a unique and high-level Olympics.
Full implementation of Olympics strategic
In order to provide premium-quality and advanced-level communications support and service, MIIT has established a system of organizing, leading and directing Olympics communications support and service, and formulated and completed all kinds of working plans and emergency reserve plans, directing telecommunications companies to actively prepare for the Olympic Games.
CNC and China Mobile, both sponsors of Beijing 2008 Olympics, take Olympics strategies as important development strategies for the companies. Tailored to the communicational needs and characteristics of the Olympics, they constitute communications service quality criterion and business handling process especially for the Olympic Games, take initiative to introduce and develop special Olympics-related business, and are striving to elevate international service capacity.
So far, CNC and China Mobile have finished the construction, coverage and testing of communications system in Olympic Games venues, press centers and other related facilities. To ensure smooth transmission in key networks, the two companies have constructed special-purpose, double-router transmission networks between main venues in Beijing and venues in other co-host cities. It is told that CNC has invested an aggregated amount of RMB1.47 billion yuan in establishing Olympics-related communications networks. Currently, Olympics networks system construction have all been completed and put into operation, such as infrastructure construction, network capacity expansion and optimization and long-distance transmission network, 5-digit dialing network, Olympics IT supporting system, direction coordination system, VIP special networks project, etc.
A director of CNC told reporter that CNC will provide the Olympics with numerous kinds of fixed-line communications service such as fixed-line telephone, hotlines, internet, optical fiber rental and comprehensive wiring, call center, video integration and transmission, video conference, etc. Among the service CNC provides, television broadcasting signal transmission alone is estimated to exceed 60000 hours.
Tailored to the requirement of The Beijing Organizing Committee for Olympic Games (BOCOG), China Mobile formulated special solution to provide communications support and service to the Torch Relay in China.
In addition, China Satcom will provide BOGOC with digital direction coordination system, equipping the 5800 Olympic passenger coaches with GPS location and monitoring service; China Telecom will provide ticket service to the Olympics; China Unicom will provide premium public mobile communication service in Olympics zones; SOHU will provide Internet content service for the Olympics.
Innovative Technology supporting High-tech Olympics
During the Beijing Olympics, a series of innovative communications technologies will be put to use, bringing new connotation into "High-tech Olympics" and making new attractions.
It is told that CNC will use a series of internationally advanced high technology, such as ASON intelligent optical transmission network, uncompressed high-definition video transmission, VLAN multi-media live transmission, to provide the Olympics with premium and effective information communications service. China Mobile innovatively solve the worldwide difficulty of WLAN network intensive coverage by placing small improved-gain antenna under tables, which significantly improve network communications quality and subscribers' experience. GoTa Digital trunk communications system used by China Satcom, is a proprietary technology developed by ZTE.
"Among these, TD-SCDMA, the Chinese 3rd generation (3G) communications standard introduced and operated by China Mobile, will make the brightest attraction", said industry inner-ringer.
It is told that, after one year's construction, the coverage rate of current 3G Chinese standard bases in Olympics cities is over 95 percent of GSM network. "We are very confident with TD-SCDMA to serve the Olympics. Its voice quality is well qualified", said Xi Guohua in the Press Conference of Olympics Communications Service and Support.
A director of China Mobile told the reporter that, in order to meet the 3G needs of foreign subscribers, China Mobile would provide TD-SCDMA rental service during the Olympics, while in the meantime introduce TD-SCDMA Olympics international card, selling to foreign visitors in the form of card package. The charge discount rate during Olympics would be around 50 percent.
At that time, subscribers will be able to watch TV live broadcast or download video clips on TD-SCDMA mobile phone through TD-SCDMA network, watching interesting Olympics news and games. In addition, Olympics special service such as wireless n internet access, Olympic Games video on-demand, Olympics newsflash, Olympics multi-media ring-tones, mobile phones walkie-talkie etc, are all being promoted.
