A Sligo-based broadband provider has won a lucrative deal to provide the data communications for the Irish leg of the World Rally Championship (WRC), it emerged this morning.
Fastcom will connect the live race data for a worldwide audience at this weekend’s world championship via a 10MB line from rally headquarters in Sligo, with a 4MB redundancy connection.
“For this global event, we needed a world-class broadband provider,” said Martin Reilly of Rally Ireland.
“Fastcom is the only internet company to offer 90pc coverage in Sligo and was the clear winner when WRC looked for a totally reliable internet link, with plenty of bandwidth,” Reilly added. The fact that they can provide high-quality local technical staff was key.”
The data network will connect with World Rally headquarters in London and enable access to critical information such as race times and live leader boards for participating teams from Rally headquarters at Sligo Institute of Technology.
The data will be used by fans and teams alike, keeping them up to date or even to allow them to change strategy mid-race.
Conor Toomey, managing director of Fastcom, said: “It’s vital that we show the world that we’re up to this challenge and, for that, connectivity is key.
“Fastcom will be keeping WRC in contact with the rest of the world and keeping rally fans everywhere in touch with the latest from the racecourse,” Toomey added.
By John Kennedy
