Cisco Systems has entered into an agreement to serve as the official network supplier for the R&A, the governing body of golf. The partnership involves the deployment of advanced networking technology to support future major championships and the construction of a new R&A headquarters in St. Andrews, Scotland.
Under the terms of the deal, Cisco will supply routing, switching, and wireless equipment, alongside network security products. The R&A intends to utilize this infrastructure to manage critical operations, including scoring systems, broadcast management, media distribution, and facility controls.
Neil Armit, the chief communications officer for the R&A, stated that the upgraded connectivity would support "critical technology operations" during The Open and AIG Women’s Open tournaments.
Armit noted that the improvements are expected to benefit spectators, players, broadcasters, and media personnel during events. Additionally, the connectivity will establish a "modern, connected workplace" at the new R&A headquarters. To achieve this, Cisco is installing Wi-Fi 7 access points, C9350 series smart switches, firewalls, cloud-managed smart cameras, and collaboration devices within the building.
The company is currently preparing equipment for the 154th Open Championship, which is scheduled to begin next week at Royal Birkdale. Cisco plans to install nearly 1,000 wireless access points for the event. Wi-Fi 7-capable units will be placed in the media center and other high-priority zones to ensure sufficient bandwidth for the AI-era demands of modern sports broadcasting.