This year, the Great North Run celebrated it’s 40th anniversary, as well as being the first major public event like this since COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted. Due to these restrictions the route of the Great North Run has been changed, with the route not finishing in South Shields for the first time in it’s history.
Instead, participants in the world’s biggest half marathon began and ended on either side of Newcastle’s Town Moor; bringing a range of logistical issues to organisers The Great Run Company.
Aspire has been providing connectivity to the start and finish line for the last 2 years. This year, at short notice, there was a requirement to get 10Gb connectivity onto the remote Town Moor to the north of Newcastle City Centre. This is a challenging location for connectivity due to limited infrastructure; but on race day, it saw tens of thousands of runners and organisers gathering on the Moor.
Aspire is currently building a 100Gbps capable full fibre network across Newcastle, delivering service to over 180 Newcastle City Council premises. To date, over 80 miles of high-grade fibre optic cable has been installed across the City, putting Aspire in a unique position to deliver the connectivity required to the Moor ready for the race. The culmination of the project, delivered with Newcastle City Council and The Freemen of Newcastle, allowed Aspire to build the full-fibre network onto the Moor, delivering the connectivity in just 4 weeks.
Delivering our Ultrafast Dedicated Connectivity (UDC) to Town Moor was a challenge. Historical infrastructure meant we had to think differently and work with our partners to deliver what the Great Run Company needed. It was an ambitious plan but we are proud to have been able to deliver what was required and once again be supporting this amazing event.
Following the race, this network will remain on the Moor, available for future public events.
John Miley, IT Director for the Great Run Company. said:
“The change to the route this year has ensured that we can hold this famous North East event. However, getting the connectivity required to host the event on the Town Moor was going to be a significant challenge. As with past projects, Aspire stepped up and delivered a fantastic solution, getting 10Gbps connectivity to the site in a world beating time. We have worked with Aspire for a number of years due to this innovative, can do attitude that fits exactly what we need from a partner”.
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