‘If we can do it for Formula 1, we can do it for anyone'

F1 has a huge fan following in India and across the world and just like the sport, speed plays an integral part when it comes to sending real-time information and images from across the world. Tata Communications has a multi-year technology service and sponsorship agreement with Formula 1, under which it delivers world-class connectivity over the largest global submarine network as well as hosting and content delivery via Formula1.com to tens of millions of fans worldwide. Mehul Kapadia, Managing Director, Formula 1 Business, Tata Communications, spoke to Voice and Data about how Tata Communications has exploited the partnership and has brought unrivalled connectivity to the F1 arena.

Voice & Data: To begin with, we would like to know the nature of the partnership Tata Communications has with Formula 1. What all services do you provide to F1?

Mehul Kapadia: Formula 1 is one of the most demanding global sports, which by virtue of advanced technology, is accessible to fans across screens around the world. The sport warrants real time technology, with precision and fail-proof connectivity. Commencing its third year of operations, Tata Communications continues to offer an entire portfolio of services to Formula One to manage their own operations better. Given Tata Communications' expertise and the speed to lead when it comes to global connectivity, Formula One Management chose the company as the official connectivity provider and official web hosting and content delivery network provider of Formula1.com.
As the official connectivity provider to Formula 1, Tata Communications delivers quality real-time connectivity around the world, allowing vital real-time content to travel quickly and reliably. It traditionally takes around 30 days to install, test, run and then dismantle a big MPLS circuit. However, we at Tata Communications, install, configure, and test temporary 100Mb MPLS circuits at each location in just one week, increasing the average 7Mbps bandwidth previously provisioned at events while giving Formula One Management (FOM) the power to enhance the experience for fans and broadcasters.
While the site sees substantial traffic on any given day, it increases exponentially on race days. These typically see spikes of up to 100 times the usual number of visitors accessing the site, using multiple devices including laptops, handheld devices such as tablets, and mobile phones; as well as from multiple platforms and web browsers.
As the content delivery network provider for Formula 1, we have designed and integrated a complete bundle of services onto one platform for improved synergy. This provides Formula One Management with a global Content Delivery Network (CDN), global IP network and on-site engineering, all from a single supplier for consistency and flexibility.
For the first time, the network and content distribution for Formula1.com has been brought together on one resilient platform. Formula1.com is being hosted on a managed hosting platform at one location, supported at another location with dynamic failover features for redundancy.
The delivery network is deployed for Formula1.com globally via our Content Delivery Network. There are three tiers of web hosting from our international standard data centres with strong business grade security policies to recognise threats.
By using a combination of hosting and CDN services from a single provider to publish and distribute website content, Formula One Management benefits from more efficient delivery of content and images. This worldwide content distribution is underpinned by the resilient and high capacity Tata Communications' global network, caching content to enable followers to enjoy faster access to Formula1.com pages. The whole platform is managed and monitored for security and availability 24x7 by a team of experienced IT and data centre professionals.

Voice & Data: Speed is an integral part of F1 platform. Share with us the services offered by Tata Communications that take care of speed while transmitting the information worldwide?
Mehul Kapadia: Speed associated with the Formula 1 operations can be completely attributed to Tata Communications' wholly owned subsea fibre network. Races occur in some of the most diverse and challenging environments across the globe, from the streets of Monaco to the deserts of Bahrain. Tata Communications connects all these F1 locations seamlessly to Tata Communications' data centres.
Connectivity and speed play a major role in a team's quest to cross the finish line ahead of the competition. The data flow from the race track to the factory and back is one of the most critical technology aspects for any team. It enables the team to make modifications throughout the race weekend as well as carry out factory-based testing. With this partnership, we are able to leverage our global network to deliver richer data three times faster than the previous rate. The team now has access to secure and agile trackside connectivity regardless of race location. This partnership also enables the team to receive data to feed into technology development without the need to be present at the race location.
Formula 1 is one of the most demanding sports. For all the F1 races, we have to set up and dismantle the network in a different country every two weeks. As one of our flagship global reference customer, our team not only works for every Grand Prix race during the race season, but also during off-season, 24/7. We also provide hosting and content delivery services to F1.com, accessed by tens of millions of Formula 1 fans. Tata Communications sets up a team of 15 to 20 people with 2 of them deputed on race tracks at a given point.
Tata Communications' connects Formula 1 from trackside to its website, streaming race and team data, as well as video feeds real-time. It does this from difficult environments and has serviced over 41 crore unique visitors to the Formula 1 website during the past 2 years. Our task is one of great scale, which is why we say, ‘if we can do it for Formula 1, we can do it for anyone'.

Voice & Data: Since IT infrastructure in this space is of paramount importance, what steps does Tata Communications take to secure it?

Mehul Kapadia: Tata Communications has a robust portfolio of managed security services as an organisation that are applied to both, network- where data connectivity happens and on the data centre side. Formula 1 requires fast and secure connectivity, because even a small breach into its information centre can have huge repercussions for its business, brand and reputation.

Formula One group businesses and race locations are now connected to the Tata Communications global network, supported by secure MPLS connectivity. Formula One Management's IT infrastructure and Formula1.com are also co-located and hosted in Tata Communications' world-class data centres. There are teams in UK, US and India functioning to offer managed security services for the proceedings of Formula One.

Voice & Data: Please tell us about your recent partnership with Chello DMC and how do you stand to benefit from it.

Mehul Kapadia: Tata Communications is now providing live Formula 1 video feeds to the official F1licensee/broadcaster Chello DMC via its wholly-owned fibre network for the first time this season. The high quality video feeds, broadcast on Dutch sports channel, Sport1 will be used for the channel's full 2014 race season coverage.
The partnership builds on Tata Communications' proven capability as the Official Connectivity Provider of Formula 1 by giving Chello DMC access to the highest quality video content thanks to Tata Communications' global fibre network. Six live feeds and an additional unilateral feed from all 19 races this season will be distributed via the fibre network for broadcast on the Sport1 channels and via the Sport1 app.
For Tata Communications this is another important development in our role as Official Connectivity Provider of Formula 1 and proven track record in providing global media solutions to our clients. By delivering the highest quality video feeds over our wholly-owned fibre network we are able to offer clients of Formula One Management, such as Chello DMC, enhanced experiences

Voice & Data: Since Tata is an Indian brand and of course F1 commands a huge fan following here, tell us about the importance of Indian market for you.
Mehul Kapadia: Formula One is a fairly popular sport in the country with a large fan base. What Tata Communications is offering today will help scale F1 in all markets globally including India.

Voice & Data: Tell us about the remote centre operations that you have recently set up. What all has gone into its setting up and in which way it helps viewers?

Mehul Kapadia: Formula One Management has established its remote operation centre in Biggin Hill, United Kingdom, which gives them the opportunity to migrate certain activities from the circuit based broadcasts centre, providing the opportunity to reduce the pressure on traveling staff numbers and freight. On race days this innovation from Formula One Management (FOM) enabled by Tata Communications makes it possible to produce aspects of broadcasters' needs just as effectively as if they're sitting at trackside.

Formula One racing moves around the world almost weekly to some of the most distant and demanding locations. In one season, the Tata Communications team covers over 62,000 miles to ensure there's a data centre up and running at each circuit in just two days and dismantled within three hours of the checkered flag coming down.
Now in the third year of working together, by the end of the 2014 season, Tata Communications will have provided Formula One Management with seamless connectivity for no fewer than fifty eight Grand Prix, helping to drive innovation in the way the sport is filmed, viewed and enjoyed worldwide. Connectivity offered by Tata Communications along with access to data centres enhance the experience for Formula One Management.

Voice & Data: Share with us your future plans and how you plan to take this partnership with Formula 1 forward.

Mehul Kapadia: Formula One has been very receptive of innovations done by Tata Communications. We are constantly working towards innovating and you will get to hear about more such endeavours in the future.