Cisco got the nod to supply its network offerings for some of golf’s biggest tournaments.

The R&A selected the networking giant to support The Open, the sport’s oldest tournament. The 154th Open, set to be held July 12-19 at Royal Birkdale in North West England, will be supported by an all-Cisco network encompassing almost 1,000 wireless access points to power connectivity for guests wherever they are on the course.

The Open was previously supported by UK-based networking vendor North, but Cisco is now the official network supplier of both the men’s and women’s Open, and will also provide network infrastructure for the R&A’s new global headquarters in St. Andrews, Scotland.

R&A chief commercial officer Neil Armit noted Cisco's expertise and technology will “help strengthen the foundations that underpin our Championships and organization.”

Among the tech set to support the golfing events are Wi-Fi 7 access points, C9350 series smart switches, and cloud-managed smart cameras. These will help provide connectivity in the media center and other highly trafficked areas such as concessions and merchandise. Organizers can also benefit from greater visibility and insights into their networks, crowd flow, and facility operations to address and remediate in real-time.

For the R&A’s headquarters upgrade, meanwhile, Cisco said its offerings would future-proof the site, which is expected to open later this year. The vendor claims deployments at the new site would encompass an “AI-ready secure network architecture” to enable the golf organization to simplify its operations and scale to support future device loads and AI applications.

“As AI transforms every industry, sports organizations need the right technology foundation to harness its full potential,” Gordon Thomson, president of Cisco's Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) operations, noted. “Together with the R&A, Cisco is proud to help create a more connected, secure and intelligent future for golf – one that respects the traditions of the game and embraces what’s next.”

“From supporting the critical technology operations at The Open and the AIG Women's Open to enhancing connectivity for fans, broadcasters, players and media, this partnership will help us deliver world-class experiences while ensuring that they remain secure, resilient and future-ready,” Armit added.

A deal with The Open organizers marks the latest in Cisco’s long-running efforts powering connectivity for some of golf’s most prestigious events and ventures.

The vendor has enjoyed a partnership with the US Golf Association (USGA) since 2018, supporting network needs for events including the US Open and US Women's Open. It’s also a partner with the Underrated Golf Tour, the student-athlete-focused tournament founded by basketball great Stephen Curry.

Away from golf, Cisco is also a technology and security partner with the McLaren Formula 1 Team and supplied networking technology to NBC Sports for this year’s 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics and Paralympics.