Tele2, Ericsson enable 5G for Megastar’s concerts in Stockholm

In time for one of the largest concerts in Swedish history, Tele2 gave fans the perfect opportunity to experience the difference 5G connectivity offers. To provide seamless and high-performance connectivity for subscribers to share videos and photos with fans, family, friends and followers, Tele2 upgraded the Swedish national arena with 5G. All powered by Ericsson’s latest 5G technology.

When around 150,000 fans from 130 countries joined in for the three-day series of concerts at the Friends Arena in Stockholm this weekend, it was a prime example of huge numbers of people gathering within a relatively small physical area, with skyrocketing demand for mobile connectivity.

Yogesh Malik, Executive Vice President and CTIO at Tele2 says: "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. 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."

Arena venues are seeing a 67 percent growth in data usage year over year. Today, fans in stadiums demand high-performance, robust and reliable mobile coverage to share, interact and stream content. This represents a major opportunity for service providers to deliver enhanced networks to ensure their subscribers are well connected. 5G can meet this demand, offering a platform that transforms the traditional live event into a richer fan experience.

Nora Wahby, Head of Customer unit Northern and Central Europe, says: “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. 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.”

Ericsson research has revealed that a significant influence on consumers’ decisions to switch service provider is the 5G experience in critical locations, such as stadiums and arenas. Fans who face issues at event venues are three times more likely to switch within six months.

Additionally, stakeholders across the stadium ecosystem can benefit from improved connectivity, such as infrastructure managers, sports teams, athletes, as well as supporting consumer services such as mobile ticketing, finding travel routes and booking taxis.

Globally, the smart stadium market is projected to increase in value from EUR 13.1 billion in 2023 to EUR 31.7 billion by 2028, according to Ericsson research.

Events and arenas also boost revenues for local business. During the days of the concerts, visitors have been expected to spend more than EUR 40 million during their time in Stockholm, according to the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce.

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 the Friends Arena represents a significant leap forward in enhancing fan experiences and unlocking new opportunities for innovation within the entertainment and sports industry.

Tele2 and Ericsson remain committed to delivering cutting-edge 5G solutions that redefine the way fans engage with live events, setting a new standard for immersive, connected experiences.