UK operator EE is taking significant steps to enhance mobile connectivity during the summer events season, with 125 network upgrades on temporary 4G and 5G masts set to be deployed across various venues. These temporary masts will prevent network congestion during large gatherings such as sporting and music events, offering better download speeds and more reliable coverage to attendees.
One such festival benefiting from this upgrade is Glastonbury, where seven additional masts have been installed. Other major events scheduled to receive network improvements include Latitude, Tartan Heart, and Reading and Leeds festivals, with sporting venues such as Silverstone, Cheltenham Racecourse, and Wembley Stadium also set to receive temporary masts.
Greg McCall, Chief Networks Officer at BT Group, said, “By expanding our network capacity with these temporary 4G and 5G sites, we are helping enhance the live event experience for our customers.” This ensures that festival-goers can seamlessly connect and share experiences with family and friends during these memorable events.
Earlier this month, EE announced the deployment of over 600 street-level mobile small cell sites in UK cities such as Birmingham, Sheffield, and Brighton. This initiative aims to increase 4G capacity and improve mobile connectivity in highly populated areas.
On a similar note, Orange Spain launched a commercial 5G SA network earlier this year in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, and Seville, introducing the 5G+ service to tackle similar connectivity challenges. 5G mmWave is also gaining attention as a potential solution to enhance connectivity in busy areas.
While these network upgrades significantly improve user experience, they don’t necessarily offer additional revenue streams to operators. It is crucial for operators to continue exploring more ways to monetize these network improvements and generate new sources of income.
