Spanish soccer club Real Madrid announced it has selected Cisco to build a new Wi-Fi 6 network at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, a deployment that will use more than 1,200 APs to cover the 85,000-seat stadium.
In a press release, the club and Cisco said the stadium would also see the deployment of Cisco’s IPTV technology for digital signage and in-stadium televisions. According to the club, Cisco has been a longtime technology partner with Real Madrid; the stadium currently has Cisco networking infrastructure, upon which the new network systems will be installed, according to the club. Part of the announcement was a long-term agreement under which Cisco will be the club’s official technology partner.
According to news reports Santiago Bernabéu Stadium is undergoing a renovation that just got an extra $225 million in funds, in part to expand the venue from soccer-only to a wider schedule of events. While the team has been playing at the stadium during renovation, other reports show what the finished product will look like, with a roof and a retractable pitch.