Extreme Networks Exec: Solution Providers Should Grab A Piece Of Hot Sports Market

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What is the NFL doing to make sure your technology is working correctly and there are no issues during the Super Bowl?

The NFL comes in and audits at the beginning of the year [how] connectivity [is working] in the first game. They provide requirements and fix things that need to be changed before the Super Bowl. Through the last home NFL game the [Houston] Texans had, the league tested and we passed the test. You have to effectively pass the thresholds and the medians. If you don’t, you have to go back and remediate it until you do pass.

What's the criteria in the NFL's test?

The test is around speed and throughput. It's density – being able to do that speed and throughput to handle video downloads, video uploads in the areas that they've designated as high-density areas. Then there's a number of applications that they run as well to see response times. We design our stuff for a continuous connection for the [best] fan experience. So the idea is, instead of you having one area where you're amped up and then you walk 10 feet and it blows up, we want you to be able to walk around the entire stadium while you're watching a video, for example.