Dimension Data Supports First Cloud-Enabled G20 Summit

Dimension Data Supports First Cloud-Enabled G20 Leaders’ Summit

Provides infrastructure and wireless networking services, seamlessly connecting delegates and media

Singapore, 27 November 2014 – Dimension Data, the USD 6 billion global ICT solutions and services provider, has announced the successful delivery of the first ever cloud-enabled G20 Leaders’ Summit in Brisbane, Australia.

Dimension Data provided the infrastructure and wireless networking services that kept more than 7,000 world leaders, delegates and media connected during the event.

The Group of Twenty (G20) is the premier forum for international economic cooperation and decision-making. Its membership comprises 19 countries and the European Union, while each year the G20 president invites several guest countries to participate. Around 4,000 delegates and 3,000 media attended the Brisbane G20, most being international guests.

Rodd Cunico, Dimension Data Australia CEO, said using cloud to deliver IT services at the Brisbane forum was a small fraction of the cost compared to using traditional compute and storage, with the added benefit of delivering agility that traditional models would not be able to provide.

“What makes this event unique is that we delivered all the services on a consumption basis – meaning there was no capital expenditure for the Government, and it was not left with assets to depreciate once the event concluded. During the event we hosted 700 concurrent thin client sessions from our Melbourne Managed Cloud Platform. Even when taking into account the built-in redundancy with automatic failover to our Sydney MCP, the cost was still minimal compared to traditional hardware models,” Cunico said.

He said providing a seamless end-user experience for every attending delegate and media representative was crucial, as the event put Australia centre stage.

“Our aim was to ensure that as soon as the world’s leaders landed at Brisbane Airport, they could get on with the business of governing the world without technology being an impediment.”

Cunico said attendees at this month’s G20 Leaders’ Forum represented 85 per cent of global GDP, and flawless connectivity for media and delegates was fundamental to the event’s success.

“Australia hosted 32 world leaders, who needed world-class connectivity and that’s exactly what Dimension Data supplied,” Cunico said.

“From day one, Dimension Data’s expertise and innovation ensured the Brisbane G20 Leaders’ Summit set the benchmark for future G20 events.”

Cunico said showcasing Australian innovation was a key consideration when planning the networking infrastructure. He said Dimension Data not only provided connectivity at the event itself but also at a number of single-use hotels throughout Queensland reserved for G20 delegates.

“In everything we delivered we wanted to introduce as much innovation as possible, balanced against any potential risks, in order to showcase the ingenuity of Australia and Australian IT.

“The reason the delivery was so successful was because of the people involved on the ground – I take great pride in hiring the best talent available so we can deliver the best outcome possible.”

G20 networking infrastructure by the numbers:
• 10,000 mobile devices supported
• 700 concurrent thin client desktop sessions
• 300 wireless access points
• 220 tonnes of hardware
• Two Dimension Data Managed Cloud Platforms
• 112 Dimension Data personnel
• 14,000 resource hours
• 70 km of cabling
• Two km of duct tape

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