Tata Communications and Formula One Management successfully test the first ever delivery of a live track-side feed on an OTT platform

Third proof of concept test between the two companies demonstrates how new technology further enriches fan experience through real-time, live app feed

London, November 25, 2015

London – November 25, 2015
Tata Communications, Official Connectivity Provider to Formula 1®, has completed another successful proof of concept with Formula One Management during a recent Grand Prix[1]. The new technology test delivered a live trackside feed from the Singapore track to Formula One Management’s Technical HQ in Biggin Hill, UK – with no time lag between the live broadcast and the footage viewed on the app.

Also known as an over-the-top (OTT) service, this test demonstrated how the Formula 1® fan experience could be enriched through new technology.

“It is very interesting to prove that, with the latest equipment and techniques, it is possible to achieve an online delivery of additional content with no delay relative to the main live programme on the screen.”

-John Morrison, Formula One Management’s Chief Technical Officer

The live OTT video feed was delivered using Tata Communications’ global fibre network and the company’s Media Ecosystem.  This converted the feed into different bit-rates – while providing a consistently high quality, real-time viewing experience – regardless of internet bandwidth or device. Unlike traditional OTT services (which often result in a lag of around 25 seconds between a live event and an online feed) Tata Communications demonstrated its capability to deliver an online feed with no delay.

Mehul Kapadia, Managing Director of F1® Business at Tata Communications, says, “Technology continues to evolve at great speed and that is why we, together with Formula One Management, continuously work together to test new capabilities. Delivering a successful low latency feed to an app is another landmark step in our shared innovation journey.”

This latest proof of concept follows a 2014 season test where Tata Communications became the first company to deliver a live 4K feed from a Formula 1® event.  Here, live footage was delivered end-to-end over Tata Communications’ network to Formula One Management’s Technical HQ in Biggin Hill, UK. Demonstrated to an exclusive group of broadcasters, the live delivery highlighted the next generation 4K broadcast capabilities afforded by fibre-optic cable, and illustrated how the future of 4K sports broadcasting could look.

Today, over 24% of the world’s internet routes travel over the Tata Communications network which provides backbone connectivity to over 240 countries and territories, including all Grand Prix locations. Tata Communications is the Official Connectivity Provider to Formula 1®, enabling the sport to seamlessly reach its tens of millions of fans across the globe. Tata Communications also works with 20+ broadcasters to deliver F1® to fans across the globe.

[1] 2015 FORMULA 1 SINGAPORE AIRLINES SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX

 

Ends…

 

Tata Communications was the Official Connectivity Provider of Formula 1® between 2012 and 2019. Tata Communications was also the Official Managed Connectivity Supplier to Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, and Official Digital Transformation Partner to ROKiT Williams Racing until the end of the 2019 season.

 


 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE

Natalie Chak
Tata Communications
+44 (0)7833 043 779
natalie.chak@tatacommunications.com
Neil Thomas
Hill & Knowlton Strategies
+44 207 413 3454
neil.thomas@hkstrategies.com

About Tata Communications

Tata Communications Limited (CIN no: L64200MH1986PLC039266) along with its subsidiaries (Tata Communications) is a leading global provider of A New World of Communications™. With a leadership position in emerging markets, Tata Communications leverages its advanced solutions capabilities and domain expertise across its global and pan-India network to deliver managed solutions to multi-national enterprises, service providers and Indian consumers.

The Tata Communications global network includes one of the most advanced and largest submarine cable networks and a Tier-1 IP network with connectivity to over 240 countries and territories across 400 PoPs, as well as nearly 1 million square feet of data centre and collocation space worldwide.

Tata Communications’ depth and breadth of reach in emerging markets includes leadership in Indian enterprise data services and leadership in global international voice. Tata Communications Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India.

https://www.tatacommunications.com

Forward-looking and cautionary statements

Certain words and statements in this release concerning Tata Communications and its prospects, and other statements, including those relating to Tata Communications’ expected financial position, business strategy, the future development of Tata Communications’ operations, and the general economy in India, are forward-looking statements. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including financial, regulatory and environmental, as well as those relating to industry growth and trend projections, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of Tata Communications, or industry results, to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include, among others, failure to increase the volume of traffic on Tata Communications’ network; failure to develop new products and services that meet customer demands and generate acceptable margins; failure to successfully complete commercial testing of new technology and information systems to support new products and services, including voice transmission services; failure to stabilize or reduce the rate of price compression on certain of the company’s communications services; failure to integrate strategic acquisitions and changes in government policies or regulations of India and, in particular, changes relating to the administration of Tata Communications’ industry; and, in general, the economic, business and credit conditions in India. Additional factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from such forward-looking statements, many of which are not in Tata Communications’ control, include, but are not limited to, those risk factors discussed in Tata Communications Limited’s Annual Reports. The Annual Reports of Tata Communications Limited are available at www.tatacommunications.com. Tata Communications is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements.


© 2017 Tata Communications Ltd. All rights reserved. TATA COMMUNICATIONS and TATA are trademarks of Tata Sons Limited in certain countries.