18.05.10
Bosch serves COP15
Bosch provided a conference discussion system that handled simultaneous interpretation of 11 languages to 6000 participants at the UN climate change conference, COP15. The system was required for more than 2,500 speakers, including high-ranking representatives, a the Bella Center in Copenhagen.
COP15, an extensive environmental coference, was the largest meeting the United Nations had ever held. Delegates from 193 countries convened in Copenhagen’s Bella Center from December 7 to 18, 2009. The aim was to seal a worldwide deal to combat the dangers of global warming. The task of fulfilling the conference delegates’ requirements for maximum inter-communication, including simultaneous interpretation of about 11 languages to a total of 6000 participants was challenging. A conference system was needed for more than 2500 speakers that included representatives from the UN, heads of state, high-ranking politicians, climate experts, members of the press and even royalty. Bosch, together with a Danish installation company, handled the conference system for the event.
The Bella Center is Denmak’s largest multi-purpose conference facility, incorporating a shopping centre, trade mart and hotel. The original congress and exhibition space at the centre was about 63,000 square meters (678,000 square feet). With an expected average daily attendance of 18,000, comprising delegates, media representatives, visitors and additional staff, the centre was not enough for the COP15 conference. Therefore, new meeting rooms and offices with associated facilities were built covering an additional 14,000 square meters (150,700 square feet). Owing to the sheer size, high-level security and other critical considerations, planning the COP15 meeting commenced two years before the event opened.
As with the entire conference organization, planning of the discussion system started at a very early stage. Unlike most other conferences, COP15 was subject to complex planning and approval by top level authorities. Not only by the United Nations, but other entities such as Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Economic Commission and various other governmental, security and legal institutions. Tenders for all contracted facilities had to be submitted under strict conditions and scrutiny. Following initial submission of tenders from various equipment suppliers and engineering installers for the conference discussion system, five were selected to continue to the next stage. Finally the choice was made for Teletech KonferenceKommunikation A/S, a Danish installer. Teletech was supported in a joint venture with two other companies for the audio-visual and lighting systems - Comtech Experience and Seelite, respectively, both in Copenhagen.
The core of the system was based on Bosch’s Digital Congress Network (DCN) Next Generation. The final configuration included both the DCN Next Generation and the CCS 800 Ultro Discussion System from Bosch. The CCS systems are designed primarily for small- to medium-sized conferences and, in the case of the COP15 congress, are used in the breakout rooms for separate discussions.
COP15 used freedom-of-movement wireless distribution through Bosch’s Integrus Digital Infra-Red (IR) Language Distribution. Connection to the main system is achieved through optical fibre cabling, which ensures integrity of the digital signal audio quality. Optimal security – essential at COP15 – is ensured since IR signals cannot pass through walls or ceilings. Simultaneous interpretation of the six UN official languages of English, French, Russian, Spanish, Arabic and Chinese from and into these and various other languages was provided through 6000 Integrus receivers and headphones.