Telefónica O2 to provide technical security for the visit of Pope Benedict XVI.
Sep 24, 2009
From September 26 to 28, 2009, the head of the Roman Catholic church, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. will visit the Czech Republic. Telefónica O2 is taking care of the technical security for his visit; the operator is a traditional partner when prominent heads of state and personalities visit the Czech Republic. In the past, for instance, it set up the technical equipment required during the visit of American President Barrack Obama and was also a partner of the Czech chairmanship of the EU. During his stay, the Pope will visit Prague, Brno, and Stará Boleslav, where he will give a holy mass and meet with representatives of the church, academia, and Czech politics.
"Providing technical security during the visits of eminent personalities is a matter of prestige for any company," says David Šita, Vice-President for State Administration, Telefónica O2, adding, "Every such event is followed carefully by specialists and laypersons, so for the organizers it is a great opportunity to prove their abilities."
During the Pope's stay, the capacity of mobile networks in the towns he is visiting will be temporarily increased, a state-of-the-art journalist center has been built, and, in addition to this, O2 transmission vehicles will be available, ensuring television and radio broadcasts from publicly accessible places. Strengthening of the signal primarily concerns Brno and StaráBoleslav, where the Pope will give mass and where great interest among visitors is expected. An international press center will be set up in the Hilton Hotel in Prague; this center will be operational for the duration of the Pope's visit and Telefónica is equipping it with nearly sixty fixed lines and more than ten broadband data connections. More fixed and data lines for media usage will also be installed in both Brno and StaráBoleslav.
Completely independent of this, five O2 transmission vehicles will be operational. The operator will use them to transmit TV and radio signals from places where footage is being shot. Transmission distribution is being carried out for Czech Television and Český rozhlas. Television broadcasts will consist of the first HD-quality transmission that Telefónica has set up terrestrially.
Contacts
Martin Žabka
Spokesperson
Telefónica O2 Czech Republic, a.s.
public.relations.cz@o2.com
tel: 800 163 342 (800 1 media)
About Telefónica O2 Czech Republic
Telefónica O2 Czech Republic is a major integrated operator in the Czech Republic. It is now operating more than seven million lines, both fixed and mobile, making it one of the world’s leading providers of fully converged services. The organization offers the most comprehensive portfolio of voice and data services in this country. It is paying special attention to the exploitation of the growth potential, particularly in the data and Internet sector. Telefónica O2 Czech Republic operates the largest fixed and mobile network including a 3rd generation network, CDMA (for data), and UMTS, enabling voice, data and video transmission. Telefónica O2 Czech Republic is also a notable provider of ICT services.
About Telefónica Europe
Telefónica Europe is a business division of Telefónica comprising mobile, fixed, and DSL operations in the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. With the exception of Isle of Man, all the operating businesses use 'O2' as their consumer brand. Telefónica Europe also has 50% ownership of the UK and Irish Tesco Mobile and German Tchibo Mobilfunk joint venture businesses. Telefónica Europe is headquartered in Slough, UK, and has 49 million mobile and fixed customers.
About Telefónica
Telefónica is one of the world’s largest telecommunications operators by market capitalisation. Its activities are centred mainly on the fixed and mobile telephony businesses, while its broadband business is the key growth driver underpinning both. It operates in 25 countries and has a global customer base of 260 million. Telefónica’s growth strategy is focused on the markets in which it has a strong foothold: Spain, Europe and Latin America. Telefónica is a 100% private sector company with its shares listed in Madrid and other stock exchanges and more than 1.5 million individual shareholders.
