Rugby fans and supporters at the recent South Africa versus Ireland game last weekend consumed over 2,000 GB of data, the equivalent of two million minutes of music streaming, according to Vodafone Ireland.
The surge in data was driven by video recording, sharing and live streaming.
Over 15,000 calls were made over the course of match-day – almost one third of the stadium made a phone call.
During the Quilter Autumn Internationals, data usage at the stadium reflected strong engagement with fans attending the Japan game consuming almost 1,740 GB and Australia 1,771 GB. The fans at the South Africa game came in with the highest usage.
Connectivity demand extended beyond rugby. At this summer’s concerts featuring Lana Del Rey and Dua Lipa, attendees consumed 5,137 GB of data across two nights. On the Lana Del Rey night alone, usage reached 2,633 GB, roughly the equivalent of ten years of nonstop podcast listening.
Vodafone Ireland invests over €100 million annually in network improvements across Ireland, including upgrades at the Aviva Stadium which focus on delivering uninterrupted mobile and 5G coverage.
To meet growing demand, Vodafone Ireland has also implemented network enhancements at Aviva Stadium as part of its nationwide investment program. These include:
- Deploying 5G capacity and spectrum utilisation in busy sectors.
- Optimising radios and backhaul for peak-hour demand.
- Continuous monitoring to adjust parameters during live events.
Commenting on the figures, Sheila Kavanagh, Director of Vodafone Networks Ireland, said:
“The data and voice activity we’ve seen at the Aviva Stadium this year shows just how essential reliable connectivity is for sports fans and music lovers. Over the course of the South Africa match-day alone, over 15,000 calls were made alongside significant data usage. Our ongoing investment, including 5G upgrades in the Aviva and throughout the country, ensures we can meet this demand and keep people connected during the biggest and most memorable moments.”
Investment also supported major summer festivals and cultural gatherings across Ireland. Temporary network sites and spectrum optimisation were deployed at events such as Flavours of Fingal, Bord Bia Bloom, Kaleidoscope, All Together Now and Electric Picnic where attendees relied heavily on navigation, social media, and streaming apps.
Across these events, Vodafone Ireland managed over 220 TB of data, the equivalent of streaming 73 million songs!
As sponsor of Irish Rugby, Vodafone marked the autumn series with a creative activation in Dublin city centre. A mural by artist KinMx on Chatham Row, developed in partnership with Carat, The Collectiv and Rockshot, celebrated the sport and its supporters.
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