As a global sponsor and converged communications provider to the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Avaya is providing one of the largest voice and data networks.

Avaya said it provided Internet telephony for FIFA and support simultaneous FIFA World Cup matches in two countries. The wireless vendor has deployed more than 40,000 network connections across 20 stadiums, two international media centers and two FIFA remote headquarters, one in Japan and the other in Korea.

The FIFA network features a wireless LAN that will allow officials to stay in touch without being tethered to stadium wiring and also allow reporters to cover the games and file their stories from the sidelines or viewing stands without having to visit a media center.

Avaya also set up a wireless LAN at each of the two hotels hosting the U.S. delegation in Seoul, which offered American players access to the Internet, the U.S. Soccer network and personal e-mail accounts.

"With Avaya’s wireless network, players were able to stay in touch from virtually anywhere in their hotel by simply booting up their PC and opening their Web browser," said Doug Gardner, Avaya’s managing director for the FIFA World Cup program.