Why you can't get a signal at festivals and sports matches

"Connectivity, over mobile and fixed networks, is critical when people come together at sports tournaments, cultural festivals, or business events. When it fails venue operators and fans suffer. One of the UK's newest sports stadia is Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium. The connectivity in the stadium was developed with HPE Aruba."

"On a matchday, it handles 11Gb inbound and outbound bandwidth, and data transfer of 205TB. The setup can support 18,000 simultaneous wi-fi connections, while a distributed antenna system (DAS) boosts mobile phone coverage in the stadium. It means Everton can meet the needs of broadcasters and photographers, as well as the emergency services and security."

"An elite event like the Champions League final will involve upwards of 40 or more cameras. Each would demand 1.5Gbps of bandwidth, estimates Peter Coppens, VP of product at telecom provider Colt Technology. Catering for this typically means two high-capacity fibre connections into and out of the stadium."

Sports venues face significant connectivity challenges during major events when thousands of attendees simultaneously demand mobile and internet access. Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium exemplifies modern solutions, handling 11Gb inbound and outbound bandwidth with capacity for 18,000 simultaneous Wi-Fi connections and distributed antenna systems for mobile coverage. Premier League, UEFA, and FIFA enforce strict connectivity requirements, particularly for broadcasters who deploy 40+ cameras at elite events like Champions League finals, each requiring 1.5Gbps bandwidth. Stadium networks must support ticketing, stadium maps, cashless payments, emergency services, and security operations. Poor connectivity frustrates fans unable to contact others or check other match results, while venue operators risk failing to meet regulatory and operational demands.

Read at www.bbc.com