From tennis courts to racing circuits, Hawk-Eye Innovations relies on NETGEAR’s high-performance networking to keep the world’s biggest sports fair, fast, and connected. With operations across 65 countries and 7,000+ annual events, Hawk-Eye depends on a robust, scalable network that delivers real-time precision and zero downtime — ensuring every play, point, and decision counts.
IN THIS ARTICLE
Industry:
Sports entertainment
Company website:
hawkeyeinnovations.com
Location:
Worldwide
From championship tennis courts to global racing circuits, Hawk-Eye Innovations redefines the future of sports through technology that ensures every call is accurate and every moment counts. With NETGEAR’s high-performance networking solutions at its core, Hawk-Eye delivers real-time precision, flawless reliability, and the speed needed to keep up with the world’s most demanding sporting events — ensuring the game always stays fair, fast, and connected.
Hawk-Eye is a leading innovator in sports technology. First used as a broadcast tool to analyse decisions in cricket, Hawk-Eye has now become an integral part of over 20 sports, covering 7,200 games or events annually across 450+ stadiums in more than 65 countries. The company works to combine creativity and technology to make sport fairer, safer, smarter and more engaging.
Hawk-Eye has developed the most sophisticated vision processing technology in sport, which enables them to, not only track balls to an accuracy of a millimetre, but players and cars too! This vision processing technology, combined with an intelligent IT-based video replay and distribution software and creative graphics platform, powers several products and services that are revolutionising sport. All of which requires a networking solution robust and simple enough to ensure that the ball is never dropped, and points are never missed.
The company has expanded rapidly, not only in its range of sports but also globally. Never mind the distance covered, at each sporting event, the stakes are incredibly high. If the technology were to fail, it could mean the difference between crowning a championship-winning team or even declaring a world record. Each new sport added to its portfolio means that Hawk-Eye needs to ensure it’s on top of its game, with equipment that can respond to the real-time needs in front of it. Relationships with sporting federations and associations rely on the knowledge that nothing will be missed and all content is available and backed up as needed.
All this change requires up-to-date testing; Hawk-Eye’s headquarters in the UK houses a large training facility where the technology can be stress tested and evaluated for its performance. High-tech simulators ensure the reality of a cricket game or a high-speed hurling match is replicated on site, as close to reality as possible. This volume of data requires a robust and reliable networking core.
Additionally, onsite crews carry tech kits with them to each sporting event, further emphasising the need for a heightened sense of security regarding the performance of all the equipment. Each on-site crew differs, and the knowledge of those at each game or match can vary day by day. As the company’s sporting remit extends, so does the number of staff involved at each sporting event. Therefore, it is imperative that the kit used is simple to use so that anyone can ensure that everything is match-ready.
Hawk-Eye began working with NETGEAR in 2014 when it needed a straightforward and scalable solution. With the company’s growth, its requirements have expanded, and despite evaluating the market for other suppliers, NETGEAR consistently came out on top. SMART Hardware Manager, Joe Cooper, has maintained a relationship with NETGEAR for three years, knowing he can always look to them for answers as his questions arise.
A key part of deciding who to work with is also focused on the speed at which needs can be addressed. Hawk-Eye’s pitching process for a match, race or even a new sport can be as short as two weeks from tender to delivery; therefore, NETGEAR’s fast response and personal touch provide the solution they need.
Products selected by Hawk-Eye include the NETGEAR ProSAFE® XS708T, XS716T, XS728T, and XS748T – powerful Smart Managed Switches. The NETGEAR 10-Gigabit Smart Managed Switches are purposely designed as a cost-effective way to provide 10G connections to 10G-capable servers and Network Attached Storage systems. They can be used at the “center of a small business network” or as an aggregation or access switch in a larger organisation, including workgroup access, connecting to a 10-Gigabit NETGEAR ProSAFE Fully Managed Switch at one end and extending the 10G connections to the edge.
A key concern for the company, ease of use while at the sporting event, is also addressed by these switches, as an easy-to-use Web browser-based management GUI makes setup and management really simple. On-site crews take two of everything with them to ensure nothing gets missed. While flurries of activity on busy match days are also addressed with no problem, thanks to the 10G bandwidth, advanced traffic management and comprehensive IPv6 support. NETGEAR’s ProSAFE M4300 was also selected as a cost-effective solution for midsize server/storage and dependable core. All of these products are covered by NETGEAR’s lifetime warranty and technical support, another key factor in choosing these products.
Products installed include:
Hawk-Eye’s record remains flawless with no significant areas of concern to date. It has ensured that both back at HQ and out on the ground, the technology works as needed. All of NETGEAR’s switches provide reliability for today as well as into the future.
Joe and his team feel incredibly confident in the network and its ability to perform when it’s needed the most. As the company’s plans for the future take shape, they are also assured that NETGEAR is available to address their changing needs and provide the necessary infrastructure. All parties have the peace of mind required when dealing with sporting events of such high calibre. Ultimately, resting easy knowing that no points or decisions will be missed.
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