Vodafone Spain to sponsor sailing's America's Cup

by Charlie McCathie, Brand Republic 18-Jan-07, 10:30

LONDON - Vodafone Spain has been named as the official mobile network for the 32nd America's Cup.

The mobile telecommunications group is the eighth official supporter of the prestigious sailing regatta and will provide technological support to the participants, organisers and customers.

Antonio Aleman, Vodafone's director of corporate business, said: "Vodafone Spain identifies itself with the capacity of innovation, avant-garde technology and the spirit of excellence that the 32nd America's Cup embodies."

Culminating in a cup match in June, the regatta is being held in Valencia - the first time the cup has been held in Europe for 150 years. The city's Vodafone customers will benefit from a 3.6 Mb/s enhanced speed of data transmissions.

Vodafone Spain will also employ 3G and high-speed downlink packet access technology to cover the race area of 600 km. In addition, their involvement will improve the communication of weather data from the racecourse to the teams by providing a GPRS modem for each of the 22 weather buoys.

Michel Bonnefus, CEO of the organising body for the regatta, said: "We are very proud that big international companies such as Vodafone continue to associate themselves with the 32nd America's Cup."

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