Verizon to connect 29 NBA arenas with fiber for video distribution

June 17, 2019

The NBA will use the network to support video distribution, including 1080p resolution on all broadcasts and support of as many as 30 new cameras.

Stephen Hardy

Verizon says it has won a contract from the National Basketball Association (NBA) to link all 29 arenas where NBA teams play with a fiber-optic network. The NBA will use the network to support video distribution, including 1080p resolution on all broadcasts and support of as many as 30 new cameras.

The fiber-optic high-speed network will see each arena connected with a pair of diversely routed 100-Gbps wavelengths, a 10X improvement over the existing 10-Gbps connections. Verizon’s Wavelength Services will be used to manage the network, and each arena will be connected to network hubs in Newark, NJ, and Atlanta, GA. Verizon Media will operate a dedicated virtual network operation center in Dulles, VA, during games to monitor real-time video traffic quality and data.

“The NBA is a leader in bringing innovative, high quality viewing experiences to fans outside the arena,” said George Fischer, Verizon senior vice president and president of Verizon Enterprise. “By combining the benefits of our multi-use strategic fiber deployment build and video broadcast distribution capabilities to be provided by our Verizon Media’s media services, we’re uniquely positioned to deliver on what the NBA expects for its fans.”

Verizon expects to have the 100-Gbps connections up and running in the second half of 2020.

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About the Author

Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave

Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.

Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.

He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.

You can connect with Stephen on LinkedIn as well as Twitter.