Vodafone has become a Premium Partner of ESL, the world’s largest esports company, and will sponsor ESL’s flagship event series, Intel Extreme Masters, ESL One, and ESL Pro League.
Vodafone Qatar will be participating by live streaming ESL events and partnering with local gamers to become the number one network for gamers as the company rapidly expands its fixed line services in the country.
Esports is one of the fastest-growing international sports, with ESL tournaments taking place in arenas around the globe as the world’s best players and teams battle it out in front of a live audience and millions of fans watching online.
The collaboration with ESL highlights how Vodafone’s international network brings together gamers and fans from across the Vodafone world with more than 500mn mobile connections, including millions on high speed 4G and fixed broadband connections. It will also provide a showcase for the development of new 5G technologies set to transform gaming.
Vodafone will also work with ESL to support a series of initiatives that promote diversity and female participation in historically male-dominated esports activities.
Vodafone will become a Premium Partner of the female esports challenge held during the IEM Sydney event in May 2018, and will collaborate with the world’s top female esports personalities to highlight the opportunities for women to participate professionally in esports or pursue a career in the esports industry.
Serpil Timuray, chief operations and strategy officer, Vodafone Group, said: “We are delighted to launch this partnership with ESL and create one of the biggest international networks for esports at a time when audiences are growing rapidly and new technologies are poised to deliver better experiences. I look forward to joining our customers in viewing ESL’s exciting esports tournaments, both at home and on their mobile devices.”
“We are thrilled to partner with Vodafone as our new telecommunication partner for various events,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO at ESL.
Vodafone will be Premium Partner for the following live global events, with further dates to be announced in due course: IEM Sydney – May 2018, Australia; ESL One Birmingham – May 2018, UK; and ESL One Cologne – July 2018, Germany.
Vodafone’s sponsorship agreement with ESL includes a new live broadcast segment titled ‘The Vodafone View’, content and advertising distribution, as well as branding and activation at the events. More information can be found on the dedicated global content hub about esports and the partnership between Vodafone and ESL at playfaster.vodafone.com
vodafone
