With the imminent arrival of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, set to begin on July 26, nearly half of Spaniards have already made it clear that they will closely follow this major sporting event. According to a survey conducted by DE-CIX, the world’s leading operator of internet exchange points, 50% of Spaniards are gearing up to enjoy the competitions, with men (54%) and those over 60 years old (52.3%) showing the most enthusiasm.
Challenges in Broadcast Quality
However, the study conducted by Alpha Research for DE-CIX reveals that 19.9% of sports event fans have experienced interruptions or decreases in signal quality. The regions most affected by these issues are Extremadura (33.3%), the Canary Islands (30.2%), and Andalusia (27%). This problem concerns viewers, as internet consumption during sporting events has grown exponentially, becoming an essential component of the experience for fans.
Sharing the Excitement Online
The trend of sharing content online during sporting events is also on the rise. Three out of ten respondents claim to share content while enjoying these events, with women (32.6%) more likely to do so than men (28.4%). Young people aged 18 to 29 (46.8%) are the most likely to share, and among regions, Catalans (36%), Madrid residents (35%), and Andalusians (35%) lead the ranking. However, almost half (48.5%) of those who share content online have faced technical issues.
Most Technological Olympics Ever
The 2024 Olympic Games are shaping up to be the most technological to date. Facial recognition cameras powered by AI will be used to ensure security, AI Replay for viewing highlights, and a Judges Support System (JSS) in artistic gymnastics. In addition, various AI programs are being used by nations to enhance athlete performance. These technological advances will increase data consumption, escalating the demand for a robust and efficient network.
“Live sports increasingly demand digital infrastructures. With the future of live sports broadcasting, every second counts for viewers. The emotions that sports evoke in their fans require ultra-fast connections to make it possible. Connections that only Internet Exchanges can provide,” concludes Ivo Ivanov, CEO of DE-CIX.
About DE-CIX
DE-CIX is the world’s leading Internet Exchange (IX) operator, offering interconnection services in nearly 50 metropolitan markets across Europe, Africa, North America, the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia. Founded in 1995, DE-CIX is one of the world’s largest internet exchange points, with an annual data volume of around 30 exabytes and over 1,100 connected networks.
DE-CIX Iberia
DE-CIX has three data exchange points in the Iberian Peninsula: Madrid, Lisbon, and Barcelona. Together with DE-CIX Marseille and DE-CIX Palermo, they form the largest neutral interconnection ecosystem in the region, managing traffic flows of over 1.5TB/s in Madrid.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games not only promise great sporting moments but also pose a challenge for digital infrastructures, demonstrating the importance of technology in the modern sports experience.
Image provided by DE-CIX press release.