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Ericsson and its partners elevate event experiences with superfast and reliable 5G

Making it memorable

Ericsson and its partners elevate event experiences with superfast and reliable 5G

EventFULL experiences: festival 5G

This year, Vodafone Business and Ericsson have partnered to bring enhanced 5G connectivity to over 70 events across the UK. By deploying temporary masts and leveraging cutting-edge technology like network slicing, Vodafone has gained valuable insights into how eventgoers and businesses utilize their data, in order to improve their offerings and redefine the future of event experiences.

Vodafone's backstage pass to unforgettable live experiences

We went Backstage with experts from Vodafone and Ericsson to hear about how they have been working together to supercharge connectivity at events across the country. We had the privilege of sitting down with Ker Anderson, Head of Radio and Performance at Vodafone UK, Emma Keedwell, Head of Innovation and Growth Portfolio at Vodafone Business UK, as well as our own Ericsson Vodafone account team, Stefan Cloete and Kali Kiosseoglou. Together, they reflect on how 5G has enhanced the experience of eventgoers, discussed the strength of our partnership, and explored the potential that lies ahead.

As live events enter a new era, Vodafone is leading the charge with its advanced 5G technology, setting a new standard for seamless connectivity at major events. With a dedicated team of experts supporting special events across the country, Vodafone have observed a staggering 90% increase in 5G data usage from just two years ago, signalling a rapidly growing demand for robust and reliable connectivity.

Leveraging its extensive experience and tried-and-tested approach of erecting temporary masts, Vodafone ensures seamless connectivity and high-speed performance at major events, regardless of existing network conditions. Whether it is broadcasting the historic King's Coronation to a global audience, or providing seamless connectivity for uninterrupted social sharing at the hottest music festivals, Vodafone's 5G offerings have set a new standard for live event experiences.

“Our customers are using 90% more 5G data at live events than just 2 years ago. With network slicing, we can divide up the network into separate chunks for specific applications, which allows us to guarantee service quality and avoid network congestion.”

Emma Keedwell, 
Head of Innovation & Growth Portfolio at Vodafone Business UK

Emma Keedwell

A new immersive era for fans with 5G

At one of the major music festivals this year, Vodafone trialled a network slice for payment terminals at a group of bars. The network slice ensured they could serve their customers faster than ever, and also meant payments could be authenticated in real-time. This is crucial for preventing fraudulent payments, which usually lead to around 4% of transactions being lost at the end of the day, providing peace of mind and a seamless experience for the business owners.

This groundbreaking capability not only ensures seamless experiences but also opens up new avenues for monetization, as Vodafone can offer specialized services to broadcasters and event organizers seeking efficient and streamlined solutions. The future of live events is here, and Vodafone is at the forefront, unlocking the full potential of 5G to create unforgettable moments that will resonate for a lifetime.

Seamless connectivity, endless possibilities

5G has become the backbone of live events, enabling everything from seamless e-ticketing and staff communications, to powering real-time mobile payments on the network.

But don't just take our word for it. We brought the Ericsson mic to a major music festival in the UK that was supported by super-reliable 5G to chat with vendors, stewards, and volunteers.

Hear directly from them as they describe the impact 5G had on their experiences.

Vodafone's 5G network is driving a revolution in event experiences, delivering tangible benefits such as enhanced business operations, minimized sales disruptions, and improved crowd management and security. As we transition to a world where reliable mobile coverage is a necessity, Vodafone's 5G network remains at the forefront of innovation, which continues to evolve with their customers' needs.

4 %
of payments lost to fraud are now prevented thanks to real-time authentication
90 %
uplift in 5G data traffic at events
3 x
users who face issues at event venues are 3 times more likely to churn in the next 6 months

"I rely heavily on a strong 5G network to keep my coffee stall running. I’m very surprised at how everything has been working, it's been brilliant."

Thomas, 
A vendor at a festival

Thomas – A vendor at a festival

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