Real Madrid and Cisco Partnering on Wi-Fi 6 Stadium Deployment

MADRID, Spain — Real Madrid and Cisco are working to make the football club’s home stadium one of the world’s most “technologically advanced” sporting venues.

Real Madrid and Cisco entered a multi-year global partnership that includes deploying “the largest” Wi-Fi 6 stadium network in Europe at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, according to Cisco this month.

The partnership is intended to “power the ultimate fan experience,” by featuring the latest in Wi-Fi 6 connectivity at the 85,000-seat Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

As the club’s official technology partner, Cisco will outfit the multi-purpose stadium with an end-to-end deployment of its technology, built on a single, converged, intelligent Cisco network.

Over 1,200 Wi-Fi 6 access points in Santiago Bernabéu Stadium will be set up to deliver faster speeds for “more immersive experience applications” as well as more bandwidth and higher reliability than the previous Wi-Fi standard.

Real Madrid plans to tap “the full breadth” of Cisco’s portfolio, including networking and security, and digital signage, as well as its expertise in “working alongside” some of the largest sporting leagues, teams, and venues.

Real Madrid expects to enhance game day operations and provide “unmatched, innovative experiences” for their fans in the venue and around the world.

Over 1,000 screens powered by Cisco’s end-to-end IPTV solution, which combines high-definition video delivery with digital signage, will help the club drive incremental revenue, activation, and fan engagement.

The agreement builds on the partners’ relationship, as Cisco products have served as the technological foundation of Santiago Bernabéu Stadium for years.

“Real Madrid is one of the crown jewels of football,” said Wendy Mars, president, Cisco EMEAR.

Mars said Cisco looks forward to “uniting the collective power of our two global brands to drive a more connected and inclusive future for this sport.”

Emilio Butragueño, director of institutional relations at Real Madrid C.F., said that Santiago Bernabéu Stadium can take data, voice, and video to “any point and thus, guarantee the widest range of services and an unrivaled spectacle in the world of football.”