The Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games rang down their curtain on September 17 - and the Bird's Nest news center was busy until the end.
Like the intense reporters that worked at the center, Wang Wei, director of fixed-line telecommunications for China Netcom (CNC) at the National Stadium, could not ease up since each CNC technician on site was vigilant until the last transmission.
It had been an epic mission that began long before the opening day for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 8.
Altogether more than 20,000 employees from CNC, including nearly 4,000 from CNC Beijing Branch alone, worked at the front, directly taking part in broadband services, contributing to stable operation of the telecommunication system and network throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
About 20,000 telephone lines, 900 ISDN and 3,000 ADSL and dedicated lines were in operation during the period. More than 10 emergency communication vehicles and 20 satellite dishes were employed for the events.
Several thousand Olympic broadband card ports at all venues were used to build a VLAN through which more than five million photos were transmitted to top five global news agencies.
CNC also guaranteed key website Internet communication services and safeguards through the smooth operation of the official websites for Olympic Games accommodating much higher page views than usual.
Commitment
CNC's leaders and employees have viewed the service to the Olympics as an honor and concentrated their enthusiasm and efforts on the Games.
The Bird's Nest, Water Cube and National Indoor Stadium, similar to National Broadcast Center and the Main News Center were the focuses of the world media and audiences. They are also the most critical parts in the Olympic communication service security.
A 20 sq m room in the basement of the Bird's Nest was the office of CNC's communication service team, where team leader Wang Wei "never came later than 8 am and left earlier than midnight from the opening day of the Games", said a CNC colleague.
In the CNC's Bird's Nest site office, half of the council board was piled with cookies, pickles, instant noodles, mineral water and the other half with several laptops. Seven chairs were connected to make a simple bed.
"We often missed meal times when the user's demand were urgent," Wang said. The hardworking spirit of his team members gave him the most lasting impression.
On the eve of the Opening Ceremony, a new employee hurt his foot while wiring in a narrow well. But the newcomer, despite of the injury, insisted on a tour check with other colleagues.
"I got to know this in his report submitted several days ago," said Wang.
CNC's communication service directors for each venue have many similar stories.
Guo Xudong, director for the fixed-line telecommunications in National Indoor Stadium of CNC, had many concerns about video broadcast communication since vans of many broadcasters did not fit in the reserved lots.
Even small transmission loss caused by so many vans parked together would undermine the high definition broadcast.
Dedicated service
More than 10 rights holding broadcasters and foreign carriers cooperated with CNC to open dozens of dedicated international video transmission lines reaching North America, South America, Europe, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong with 35G bandwidth.
Zhao Jie, director for the fixed-line telecommunication in National Aquatics Center of CNC, said wiring in venues is really a subtle task. "Technically speaking, signal disturbances and intense electric currents should be avoided. Moreover, waterproof and trample-resistant wiring is a must in venues due to safety reasons."
Although repeated pre-Olympic drills gave Zhao an extremely clear understanding of the Water Cube, special needs of disabled spectators for the Paralympic Games raised requirements higher for CNC technicians.
Source: China Daily
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