Production companies deepen reliance on high-speed Internet

Production companies are now viewing high-speed, high-capacity Internet service as a standard requirement for major events. The technology helps enhance the management of the productions, while at the same time facilitating efficient communications among members of production teams often operating across borders.

Streaming is also becoming standard practice for these events and is seen as critical to widening the audience base. Producers for events such as the Shaggy and Friends Concert and the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival have turned to Flow to 'power' their events.

Delivering speeds of up to 100mpbs, the reliability of the Flow network enables efficient communication, fast transfer of large files, troubleshooting and critical software updates for equipment.

Robert Stewart, tour manager for International reggae star Sean Paul and production manager of the upcoming Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, believes that the strength of Flow's network adds value to the festival. "Flow's Internet has proven to be quite helpful. We often need to share large files at the venue and communicate online to ensure the activities onstage are seamless," he explained. "There are times when we have to update software for equipment to work seamlessly, and with the fast downloads on the Flow network we are able to reduce setup times."

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Artistes and their management teams also enjoy the benefits of the availability of Internet service at concert venues. While on tour they need the convenience of fast and reliable Internet service in order to stay in touch with family and friends, update schedules, finalise arrangements for future bookings, and provide engineers with technical material needed for their performance.

The local and international media also see Flow's fast, reliable Internet as an important part of filing stories, sharing photos and updating their websites.

The onstage production crews are also relying on the capacity of Internet that only Flows offers. For example, the work of the lighting designer is a critical element of live performances. Working with artistes, they manage the visual aspect of the performance with fun, creative lighting design which appeals to the sensory palette of viewers.

John DaCosta, one of Jamaica's foremost lighting directors whose service is highly sought after, says that access to high-speed Internet on the job is sometimes critical. "Having high-speed Internet is great when there is some amount of troubleshooting that needs to be done online to avert or solve a crisis," he explained. "Additionally, it helps artistes to communicate their specific request sometimes on very short notice. It's just convenient and very helpful."

"We appreciate the confidence that event producers have demonstrated by inviting us to partner with them to ensure the successful execution of the major entertainment events in Jamaica," said Denise Williams, director of corporate and government affairs at Flow. "Flow's state-of-the art network reliably and efficiently delivers solutions for many aspects of event management. We are pleased to be able to offer our services in support of world-class productions here in Jamaica."

Flow provided Wi-Fi services to facilitate ticket sales and production management of The Shaggy and Friends concert in aid of the Bustamante Hospital for Children. Flow is now gearing up to power the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival with both direct fibre and its wireless solution, Flow Unplugged, which will facilitate production management for the three-day concert event, and also enable patrons, artistes and the media to share the festival experience in real time when they upload their comments and photos to social-media networks and communicate with friends and family.