21 November 2019

NTT Ltd. and SES team up to provide race management services to the Isle of Man TT Races 

Global technology services provider and world leading satellite operator implement data and tracking platform to enhance safety and bring digital expertise to the iconic motorcycle event Luxembourg – 21 November 2019 – The Isle of Man Government Department for Enterprise, the rights holder of the Isle of Man TT Races, today announced that it has awarded NTT Ltd., a world-leading global technology services provider, a five year contract to implement a real-time race management platform for the Isle of Man TT Races.

NTT Ltd. will work in partnership with SES, a Luxembourg-based global satellite operator, who already provides the interface to the TT broadcasters. Although primarily in place to provide the race organizer with live timing and positioning data, the platform will also have the ability to enhance the viewing experience of the race and attract a new generation of digitally savvy fans.

The platform uses Amazon AWS cloud services to collect real-time data from the various event vehicles at any point around the circuit which will be made available to race fans via the official iomttraces.com website. This will facilitate live-time tracking services for course cars, travelling marshals and competitor race bikes at one of the most challenging racing events in the world. The contract also covers the Classic TT Races and the Manx Grand Prix, all of which take place around the iconic TT Course.

The new real-time GPS timing system is targeted to be available for the 2021 TT Race. It will introduce the latest available technology to trace race bikes with a speed of more than 200 miles per hour (322 km/h) in real-time with a location accuracy of up to 10 cm on the TT Course. It delivers rapid update speeds, is highly precise and has an accuracy of one thousandth of a second. It’s cutting-edge machine-learning models will improve safety and has the potential to predict key race moments in the future. 

In addition, a local 4G mobile network is in place to transport the event data from the vehicles on the ground, to the race viewers via the digital platform. Traditionally, sports solutions use a proprietary network to cover racetracks for GPS timing. In the case of the iconic TT Course, 61 km in length travelling though villages, valleys, forests and over a mountain, this legacy approach would not have been feasible.

NTT Ltd. is widely recognized for being technology partner for the Tour De France and has recently renewed its partnership with Amaury Sport Organization (A.S.O.), the organizer of cycling’s Tour de France, until 2024. Both organizations led the way in the use of advanced technology in cycling, demonstrating how the use of data can truly revolutionize the sport’s fan experience.  

NTT Ltd. has already carried out preliminary tests of the tracking system around the TT Course and is targeting delivery of the new service for the 2021 Isle of Man TT Races. The services provided by NTT Ltd. will include competitor race entry and registration, live tracking of all competitor machines as well as non-competitor vehicles including course cars, sweepers, ambulances and travelling marshal bikes.

Laurence Skelly, Isle of Man Government Department for Enterprise, said, “By working with NTT Ltd. and SES, we have the ability to improve the general safety at the event by tracking all vehicles on the TT Course in real time. This solution also has the potential to revolutionize how the TT Races and our other events around the TT Course are experienced by fans around the world. Viewers will soon be able to follow the race in real time and be kept up to date on all the exciting race developments as they happen. We hope that this will be a good use case for future Smart City projects”.

Andrew Coulsen, CEO of NTT Ltd. Europe, commented, “We have evolved our highly innovative technology to meet the geographical, logistical and physical challenges that come with providing data tracking for a mountain race. Our technology ability has been tested at both the Tour de France and Tour de Yorkshire and we now look forward to developing a close working partnership with the Isle of Man Government to protect participants and spectators, as well as bring TT race supporters closer to the action.”

Deepak Mathur, Executive Vice President of Global Sales for SES Video, said, “NTT Ltd. and SES have a longstanding relationship when it comes to partnering on a variety of projects. For the TT Races, we have the responsibility of broadcasting the footage around the world via our satellites and partnering with NTT Ltd. means that we can provide a fully comprehensive solution that can make a real difference to how fans experience the TT Race. We are excited to help the Isle of Man Government to demonstrate cutting-edge digital technology on a global stage.”

The TT Race is tipped to become the first high profile use case for the next generation mobile network on the Isle of Man, paving the way and setting the standard for future IOT projects on the island, and even around the world.  - ENDS -
About NTT Ltd.
NTT Ltd. is a leading global technology services company. We partner with organizations around the world to shape and achieve outcomes through intelligent technology solutions. For us, intelligent means data-driven, connected, digital, and secure. As a global ICT provider, we employ more than 40,000 people in a diverse and dynamic workplace that spans 57 countries, trading in 73 countries and delivering services in over 200 countries. Together we enable the connected future.
Visit us at our new website hello.global.ntt 

About the Isle of Man TT Races
The Isle of Man TT Races is an annual series of motorcycle races that takes place over two weeks at the end of May and beginning of June on closed public roads. The first Isle of Man TT Race was held on Tuesday 28 May 1907. It featured as a round of the World Championship until 1976. The time trial format sees the world’s leading road racers tackle the iconic 37¾ mile course that has been in use since 1911. Many of the world’s greatest motorcycle racers have competed in the TT including Mike Hailwood MBE, Geoff Duke OBE, John Surtees CBE, Giacomo Agostini, Phil Read MBE and Joey Dunlop OBE. The event consists of a week of qualifying followed by one week (four race days) of racing. 

About the Isle of Man
The Isle of Man is a self-governing British Crown dependency in the Irish Sea between England and Ireland. It has a population of 85,000 and and a £5.26bn GDP. The Island is a leading international business center with a diversified economy that encompasses traditional sectors and emerging industries. It has a growing dynamic cluster of digital-focused businesses, from international corporate brands to start-ups. 

About SES
SES is the world’s leading satellite operator with over 70 satellites in two different orbits, Geostationary Orbit (GEO) and Medium Earth Orbit (MEO). It provides a diverse range of customers with global video distribution and data connectivity services through two business units: SES Video and SES Networks. SES Video reaches over 355 million TV homes, through Direct-to-Home (DTH) platforms and cable, terrestrial, and IPTV networks globally. SES Video delivers a full suite of innovative end-to-end value-added services for both linear and digital distribution, and includes the ASTRA satellite system, which has the largest DTH television reach in Europe. SES Networks provides global managed data services, connecting people in a variety of sectors including telecommunications, maritime, aeronautical, and energy, as well as governments and institutions across the world. The SES Networks portfolio includes GovSat, a 50/50 public-private partnership between SES and the Luxembourg government, and O3b, the only non-geostationary system delivering fibre-like broadband services today. Further information is available at: www.ses.com

Media Enquiries:
Marta Duponselle
Senior Marketing Manager
M: +352 621 233 531
E: marta.duponselle@global.ntt