- 5G connectivity, which will be used for the first time in a mega-event within the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region to support a commercial network that promises to be around 100 times faster than 4G and will allow users to live-stream 4K resolution video anywhere, at any time, with minimal lag.
- An extensive network of building information sensors will be used to optimise the consumption of utilities – such as electricity, lighting, water and air conditioning – to ensure visitors are comfortable, while also meeting Expo’s ambitious sustainability targets.
- A physical network of more than 1,000 beacons and sensors will be used to track the location of visitors, and deliver a personalised and targeted experience for Expo visitors via Expo’s mobile app.
- A state-of-the-art Technology Operations Centre will be deployed to monitor and support the technology infrastructure 24/7, with the intelligence to detect, isolate and resolve issues, with minimal human interaction.
Expo 2020’s drive for connectivity is propelled by the deployment of innovative new technologies
More from Expo 2020:
- Discovering Estonia's digital e-scapade
- Tackling world poverty with smartphones
- From commuting to computing
From the outset, the first World Expo to be held in the Arab region has been all about bringing together countries, governments, businesses and individuals from around the world, into a common, connected space.
“The idea of creating the most connected place on Earth was born during the bid phase in 2013, and first floated in the registration dossier submitted to the Bureau International des Expositions,” says Iman Alomrani, deputy chief technology officer for Expo 2020 Dubai. “From that point, the roadmap evolved, as Expo 2020 itself evolved, enriched by innovation from our partners and the creativity of the expo team.”
The concept of connectivity extends beyond just physical networks. The expo organisers describe it as “the bedrock of healthy and empowered societies, ensuring that we all benefit economically, socially and intellectually by sharing and learning”.
“People often think of being ‘connected’ as simply logging on to a Wi-Fi network, but it is about much more than a mere function – rather, what it has the potential to enable,” says Shukri Eid, managing director at Cisco Gulf region.
Cisco was appointed the Official Digital Network Partner of Expo 2020 Dubai in 2018, and its 'intent-based' network forms the backbone of Expo 2020’s technological infrastructure.
“Whether we consider connectivity as something that takes place between people, places or things, technology is a common thread that unites all,” he says.
Integrating connectivity with infrastructure
Expo’s technology infrastructure was designed and built with experiences of previous mega-events in mind, explains Alomrani, particularly when it came to the choice of technology partners and cybersecurity architecture.
“We are committed to harnessing cutting-edge technology to deliver an exceptional World Expo,” she says. “To that end, we are implementing the latest innovative technologies, such as 5G connectivity and Cisco’s intent-based network, which have no reference in previous mega-events, as they did not exist until recently.”
In terms of technology infrastructure, the Expo 2020 site is equipped with, among other things:
- 5G connectivity, which will be used for the first time in a mega-event within the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region to support a commercial network that promises to be around 100 times faster than 4G and will allow users to live-stream 4K resolution video anywhere, at any time, with minimal lag.
- An extensive network of building information sensors will be used to optimise the consumption of utilities – such as electricity, lighting, water and air conditioning – to ensure visitors are comfortable, while also meeting Expo’s ambitious sustainability targets.
- A physical network of more than 1,000 beacons and sensors will be used to track the location of visitors, and deliver a personalised and targeted experience for Expo visitors via Expo’s mobile app.
- A state-of-the-art Technology Operations Centre will be deployed to monitor and support the technology infrastructure 24/7, with the intelligence to detect, isolate and resolve issues, with minimal human interaction.
In terms of technology infrastructure, the Expo 2020 site is equipped with, among other things:
Providing back-office operations and expo visitors with a seamless network experience, Cisco’s Software-Defined Access (SD-Access) – the industry’s first intent-based networking enterprise solution – will host about 8,000 Wi-Fi access points, serving up to 300,000 users a day during the event, as well as supporting more than 400 end points in Internet of Things (IoT) systems such as building management, irrigation and lighting control.
“Consolidating operations into a single internet protocol (IP) network, the intent-based network provides an infrastructure that constantly learns, adapts and protects, making it the ideal foundation for the Expo 2020 digital experience,” explains Eid. “This also means that we can enable visitors, exhibitors and organisers across the site to connect on any device, securely, wirelessly and seamlessly.”
In the second half of 2019, Cisco celebrated the milestone of completing network deployment across the three thematic districts at the Expo 2020 site.
Cisco has also been selected to manage, operate and maintain Expo 2020 Dubai’s entire IT network, across the thematic districts, pavilions, parks and arrival plazas, as well as at Dubai Exhibition Centre, co-located at the expo site.
“In terms of enabling a cohesive working environment, our Webex collaboration technology platform is currently being used by Expo 2020 for on-demand communication, secure file-sharing and web conferencing,” says Eid.
Alomrani says that the investment in collaborative software platforms such as Webex has paid off during the pandemic, allowing Expo 2020 staff to shift to remote working. At the height of the pandemic, Expo 2020’s teams participated in more than a million virtual meeting minutes through the platform during a three-month period, supporting continuity of business during the event's preparation phase.
“We have deployed our Office of the Future proof-of-concept at the expo site, which enables fast and secure searching, locating and reserving of meeting rooms,” says Eid. “Expo 2020 Dubai is also leveraging our dynamic signage solution, known as Cisco Vision, in one of the largest deployments of its kind globally.”
Remaining agile
The technology functions at Expo 2020 were one of the first to transition from the planning and installation phase to operations, two years ahead of opening.
“[In addition to] starting the transition early, we focused on transferring the talent, knowledge and experience of the implementation team to the operations team and ensuring our technology partners stay with us from the initial design of the system until its decommissioning after Expo 2020,” explains Alomrani.
“Sound governance in terms of testing, commissioning and ongoing service-level management, together with keeping our teams clearly focused on either project delivery or operational support, have also proved critical to the success of this process.”
Innovation underway
Some of Expo 2020’s innovative applications include:
- An online ticketing platform that, in addition to selling tickets, will use the booking information captured to reduce visitor queueing time and monitor venue capacity.
- The One-Stop Shop, an online portal that supports participants and partners with a single source of information throughout the life cycle of their pavilions and exhibits, and helps to ensure compliance with UAE regulations, approvals and documentation requirements.
- PODium: an application, co-developed with the SAP Co-Innovation Lab in the UAE alongside SAP technology partners HERE Technologies and Extentia Information Technology, designed to help people of determination navigate the vast Expo venue by providing real-time information tailored to their mobility needs.
- A Virtual Expo programme that will drive virtual visitation to a World Expo for the first time.
Covid-19 has also broadened the scope of the Virtual Expo experience, as audiences have developed a greater degree of comfort with digital platforms and virtual experiences. This virtual experience will allow visitors from around the world to experience Expo 2020 Dubai as if they were on site.
“With today’s technology, tracking and maintaining thousands of technology components – both hardware and software –across such an extensive site, is less of a challenge than how to integrate and operate them to create a convenient, seamless and secure experience for our visitors,” says Alomrani. “But with the help of our partners and an experienced and talented expo team, it is a challenge we are confident of meeting.”
Travel & Connectivity was the seventh in a series of 10 pre-expo thematic talks that launched in October 2020 with Space. The talks bring together influential policymakers, thought-leaders, expo participants and the public to help shape the thought-provoking content and conversations taking place during Expo 2020 Dubai.
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