Cisco Replaces Nortel As London 2012 Sponsor

The London 2012 organising committee LOCOG has ended its Tier One commercial sponsorship deal with Nortel, after the financially-stricken telecommunications firm entered negotiations over the sale of a number of its assets, with rival firm Cisco taking up the contract albeit at a lower level of investment.

Nortel had recently entered into an agreement for the sale of certain wireless assets and is advancing in discussions with external parties to sell its other businesses.

Nortel’s partnership with LOCOG as the Official Network Infrastructure Partner for the Games had spanned all its business units and as a result of the potential asset sales, the organising committee viewed that the company was no longer able to maximize the value of its investment in the Games.

Under these circumstances, LOCOG took the decision to invite Cisco to bid for the infrastructure contract and has announced that Cisco has become Official Network Infrastructure Supporter for London 2012 in a Tier Two deal, which commences with immediate effect.