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The Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow takes a major step forward with the launch of SEConnect. This £4 million investment represents a significant improvement to their IT infrastructure. SEConnect ensures world-class connectivity and secure, reliable wireless coverage. With this initiative, the SEC positions itself at the forefront of technology to host the most sophisticated events. Organizers can now offer personalized and optimized experiences to their clients and suppliers. Whether for conferences, shows, or exhibitions, SEConnect meets the growing technological needs. Discover how this transformation strengthens Glasgow’s reputation as a leading event destination.
The SEConnect project represents the largest commercial investment by the SEC since the opening of the OVO Hydro. With increased capacity and bandwidth, the SEC is now equipped to provide a better experience for both guests and suppliers. Clients can benefit from custom service packages, superior connectivity, and confidence in the venue’s ability to meet their technological needs.
The SEC hosts a variety of events each year, including the Diabetes UK Conference, Disney on Ice, and Hyrox. Thanks to SEConnect, the campus is better prepared than ever to enhance the event experience by meeting technological demands ten times greater than those of recent major events like the COP26.
The deployment of SEConnect includes new state-of-the-art network switches, advanced firewalls, high-speed cabling, innovative wireless access points, as well as an event feedback and reporting tool. These improvements ensure complete wireless coverage and high-speed Internet services.
Kathleen Warden, Sales Director of Conferences, stated: “With SEConnect, we are providing our clients with the best in event technology, ensuring fast, reliable, and secure connectivity that enhances every aspect of their events. This investment enables our clients to offer more interactive and engaging experiences for their participants, whether through seamless streaming, real-time engagement tools, or high-speed Internet access, all backed by top-tier cybersecurity. SEConnect reflects our commitment to providing the infrastructure that allows our clients to succeed, making the SEC the venue of choice for innovative, world-class events.”
Sammia Shakoor, Project Manager at the SEC, added: “Managing a project of this scale in an active venue like the SEC required meticulous planning and an agile scheduling approach. Our teams had to balance infrastructure upgrades with a full event schedule, working closely with event teams to minimize disruptions. Instead of deploying the network all at once, we adopted a ‘start-stop’ schedule, shifting resources between different sites between events. This allowed us to remain responsive to our clients’ needs while making steady progress. The success of SEConnect reflects the dedication of every team member and our ability to remain flexible and focused throughout the deployment, for our visitors and clients.”
Simon Wilson, Director of Products at HPE Aruba, emphasized: “We are proud to support the SEC in the implementation of SEConnect, a major advancement in event connectivity. Reliable and high-performing WiFi is essential for modern events, and with Aruba’s technology, SEConnect ensures seamless, secure, and fast digital experiences for organizers, exhibitors, and visitors.”
Stuart Melville, IT Manager at the SEC, concluded: “This transformative investment solidifies the SEC’s position as a leader in the event industry by enhancing the visitor experience, streamlining operations, strengthening cybersecurity, and providing a competitive edge to attract top-tier events, thereby strengthening Glasgow’s global reputation as a preferred destination for events.”
The Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow has just taken a major step in its technological evolution with the launch of SEConnect. This investment of £4 million marks the largest commercial initiative since the opening of the OVO Hydro, underscoring the SEC’s commitment to providing state-of-the-art facilities for its events.
What is SEConnect and why is it important?
SEConnect represents a significant transformation of the SEC’s IT infrastructure. By modernizing its technological capabilities, the SEC ensures world-class connectivity and secure, reliable wireless coverage. This investment aims to meet the growing demands of conference and event organizers who are seeking advanced technological features for their events.
With SEConnect, the SEC positions itself as a leader in the events sector, capable of supporting the most sophisticated and technologically advanced exhibitions and shows. This enhancement ensures that the SEC remains at the forefront of innovation, ready to host a wide variety of large-scale events with increased technological needs.
What are the main benefits of SEConnect for users?
SEConnect brings a multitude of benefits for both clients and visitors to the SEC. Some of the main advantages include:
- Increased capacity and bandwidth: Allows for better management of data flows, ensuring a smooth user experience during events.
- Personalized experiences: Clients can now benefit from custom service packages tailored to their specific needs.
- Superior connectivity: A robust infrastructure ensures fast and reliable Internet connection, essential for real-time activities such as streaming and live interactions.
- Enhanced security: Advanced security measures protect sensitive data, providing peace of mind to organizers and participants.
In summary, SEConnect enables the creation of enriched event experiences, effectively addressing the technological challenges of contemporary events.
How does SEConnect transform events held at the SEC?
The SEC hosts a wide variety of events each year, ranging from the Diabetes UK Conference to blockbuster shows like Disney on Ice and Hyrox. With SEConnect, the SEC’s ability to host large-scale events is greatly enhanced, allowing it to manage technological demands ten times greater than those of recent events, such as the COP26.
Thanks to the integration of new cutting-edge technologies, such as next-generation network switches, advanced firewalls, high-speed cabling, and innovative wireless access points, SEConnect ensures total coverage and ultra-fast Internet services. Additionally, the event feedback and reporting tool allows organizers to gather valuable data for continuously improving their events.
What specific technologies does SEConnect integrate?
SEConnect is equipped with various innovative technologies that optimize the performance and security of events. Among these:
- Next-generation network switches: Ensure efficient data traffic management, minimizing interruptions and improving overall performance.
- Advanced firewalls: Protect the infrastructure against cyber threats, ensuring a safe environment for all operations.
- High-speed cabling: Provide fast and stable connectivity, essential for bandwidth-demanding applications.
- State-of-the-art wireless access points: Offer comprehensive wireless coverage, allowing participants to remain connected at all times.
- Feedback and reporting tool: Facilitates the collection and analysis of participant feedback, helping organizers optimize future events.
These combined technologies make SEConnect a robust and flexible infrastructure, capable of adapting to the diverse needs of modern events.
What are the testimonials from leaders involved in SEConnect?
Kathleen Warden, Sales Director of Conferences at the SEC, highlights the positive impact of SEConnect:
“With SEConnect, we provide our clients with the best in event technology, ensuring fast, reliable, and secure connectivity that enhances every aspect of their events. This investment enables our clients to offer more interactive and engaging experiences for their participants, whether through seamless streaming, real-time engagement tools, or high-speed Internet access, all backed by top-tier cybersecurity. SEConnect represents our commitment to providing the infrastructure necessary for our clients’ success, making the SEC the venue of choice for innovative, world-class events.”
Sammia Shakoor, Project Manager at the SEC, adds:
“Managing a project of this scale in an active venue like the SEC required meticulous planning and an agile scheduling approach. Our teams had to balance infrastructure upgrades with a full event schedule, working closely with event teams to minimize disruptions.”
Simon Wilson, Director of Products at HPE Aruba, expresses his pride in supporting the SEC:
“We are proud to support the SEC in the implementation of SEConnect, a major advancement in event connectivity. Reliable and high-performing WiFi is essential for modern events, and with Aruba’s technology, SEConnect ensures seamless, secure, and fast digital experiences for organizers, exhibitors, and visitors.”
Stuart Melville, IT Manager at the SEC, concludes:
“This transformative investment solidifies the SEC’s position as a leader in the event industry by enhancing the visitor experience, optimizing operations, strengthening cybersecurity, and providing a competitive edge to attract top-tier events, thereby strengthening Glasgow’s global reputation as a preferred destination for events.”
What impact will SEConnect have on future events at the SEC?
With the deployment of SEConnect, the SEC is now better equipped to host an even more diverse and demanding range of events. The increased capacity and optimized bandwidth allow for the hosting of events requiring advanced technological infrastructure, such as international conferences, interactive exhibitions, and large-scale shows.
This technological evolution not only ensures a better experience for participants but also offers organizers flexibility and powerful tools to manage their events more effectively and innovatively. The SEC can now boast an infrastructure capable of supporting sophisticated technological requirements, thus attracting increasingly prestigious and diverse events.
By enhancing the security and reliability of its connectivity, the SEC positions itself as a destination of choice for international events, offering a robust and scalable platform that meets the varied needs of organizers and participants. SEConnect is not just a technological upgrade; it is a true revolution that paves the way for a new era for events in Glasgow.
How does SEConnect strengthen Glasgow’s global reputation as a premium event destination?
The £4 million investment in SEConnect reinforces Glasgow’s position on the global stage as a major event destination. By providing cutting-edge IT infrastructure, the SEC attracts international event organizers who seek venues capable of meeting high technological demands.
The SEC’s ability to manage large-scale events with seamless connectivity and enhanced security is a major asset that distinguishes Glasgow from other destinations. Positive feedback from organizers and participants bolsters the city’s reputation as a dynamic and innovative hub for conferences, exhibitions, and shows.
Furthermore, partnering with renowned technology partners, such as HPE Aruba, adds an additional layer of credibility and assurance that events at the SEC will be supported by reliable and high-performance technological solutions. This synergy between local investment and international expertise helps solidify Glasgow’s place in the global events market.
What are the upcoming developments planned for SEConnect?
Although SEConnect already represents a significant leap forward for the SEC, the leaders aim to continue improving and expanding this infrastructure. Future developments include integrating new emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT), to offer even more immersive and interactive experiences.
Additionally, the SEC plans to expand SEConnect’s capabilities to include advanced analytics tools, enabling a better understanding of participant behaviors and continuous optimization of the services offered. These enhancements will ensure that the SEC remains at the forefront of technological innovation, capable of quickly adapting to the evolving events sector.
By continually investing in SEConnect, the SEC demonstrates its commitment to providing a robust and flexible infrastructure, ready to support the ambitions of the most demanding event organizers and to maintain Glasgow as an essential hub for world-class events.
