Tele2 has announced that it has upgraded the Friends Arena in Stockholm with the latest 5G technology from Ericsson. The upgrade happened just in time for the Taylor Swift Eras Tour concerts on 17, 18 and 19 May, which broke the venue’s all-time attendance record.
Around 150,000 fans from 130 countries attended the three-day concert series at Friends Arena, and the new technology enabled these fans to share videos and photos easily during the shows. This event showed that 5G can handle large crowds needing strong mobile connectivity.
“With the expansion of 5G into arenas, we’re propelling forward on our quest to deliver the best 5G, enhancing connectivity and unlocking new possibilities for all, including concerts with over 50,000 attendees,” said Yogesh Malik, executive vice president and CTIO at Tele2. “This strategic move is one further step on our mission to delivering the ultimate 5G experience with the best energy efficiency, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to continue pushing boundaries.”
According to Ericsson, data usage in stadia is growing by 67% each year. Fans now expect fast, reliable mobile coverage to share and stream content. It says that 5G meets this need and can make live events even better for fans.
“Upgrading the arena with 5G enhances the fan experience and allows for new features of sharing and co-creating live entertainment that merge the physical and digital world, yet to be fully explored,” said Nora Wahby, head of customer unit northern and central Europe, Ericsson. “The high-speed, low-latency capacity can support the full entertainment infrastructure such as cost-effective TV broadcasts and live streaming, instant control of sound and lighting, in addition to enhancing the live fan experience.”
Research from Ericsson shows that a good 5G experience in a stadium will influence consumers’ choice of service providers. Fans with poor connectivity at events are three times more likely to switch providers within six months. Better connectivity also benefits stadium managers, sports teams, and supporting services like mobile ticketing and travel planning.
The ongoing 5G upgrade consists of Ericsson’s 5G technology on new frequency bands, including the 3.5GHz 5G mid-band. The network leverages the industry leading Massive MIMO AIR 6419 with optimal Multi-User MIMO technologies to ensure that Tele2 always provides maximum network performance during events.
The rollout of 5G at Friends Arena is a big step forward in enhancing the fan experience and creating new opportunities in the entertainment and sports industry. Tele2 and Ericsson are committed to providing top-notch 5G solutions that transform live events and set a new standard for connected experiences.
The global smart stadium market is expected to grow from €13.1 billion (US$14.2 billion) in 2023 to €31.7 billion (US$34.4 billion) by 2028.
