As internet becomes an integral part of our lives, it is impossible to imagine life without it. There are very few places in the civilised world where you will not find connectivity whether it be WiFi or Cell Phone reception. However, even some of the best music festivals in the world suffer from lack of internet connectivity. This is due to a combination of factors including remote location, large gathering of people, heavy demand on data. In most cases, even if there is mobile reception, the cell towers are overwhelmed with the unusual number of people present at the location.
Organisers are looking to change this. Full connectivity from mobile devices is set to revolutionise the future of festival experience.
Why should festivals have reliable WiFi?
Before Covid hit, between 2016-2017 there was a 23% growth of Australians attending events. And now, in our post Covid era, it is almost impossible to secure first and second round tickets to most events. Over 90% of festival goers are smartphone users, so you do the maths. There are lots of advantages of WiFi for consumers. We are in the age where friends regularly stay connected via messaging, share their plans and memories with each other or simply use technology to keep tabs on their mates to make sure everyone is safe. In US, UK and most European countries, temporary WiFi setup has become part of the process of organising the event. It is only a matter of time until Australian events catch up.
How is WiFi reliably implemented?
Because festivals usually take place in fields and other remote locations, providing an internet connection is not an easy task. Happy Networks have carefully selected a set of technologies to keep festival goers connected. Given the size of the site, it is extremely difficult to achieve 100% coverage. However, with modern technologies, patrons can use WiFi in the most common areas. Tents, eating area, toilet blocks, stages, chill out areas are all covered.
In the future, as our dependence on technology grows, WiFi connectivity will be as essential as power generators and food trunks at a festival event.
If you are running a festival, then reach out to Happy Networks and we’ll come up with a connectivity strategy for your event.