Connectivity upgrade for Adelaide Oval

Having issues making a phone call or connecting to the internet will be a thing of the past at Adelaide Oval with a connectivity upgrade to be complete in time for the 2015 AFL season.

The redeveloped venue attracted multiple 50,000 crowds in 2014 and while the stadium was a raging success with fans, many struggled to even make a phone call due to significant network congestion.

Stadium Management Authority chief executive Andrew Daniels said Telstra had upgraded the communications network at the Oval to a standard that would guarantee fans could make calls, send messages or access social media from their phone at any time during a game.

“We have been working with Telstra very closely to find a total connectivity solution,” he said.

“What that means is you will always been able to phone home, SMS your mates or check Facebook and Twitter during the game.

The system has been tested during recent major events at the venue and will be ready in time for the 2015 AFL season, when the Adelaide Crows host North Melbourne on April 5.

Mr Daniels said the upgraded system was more than providing better Wi-Fi coverage for fans.

“This is more than just about Wi-Fi because it covers the whole range of calls, texts and internet browsing you can do on your phone or tablet,” he said.

Telstra has spent $7 million upgrading its system at the venue and it’s the first step in the Adelaide Oval being a true “connected stadium”, something that ANZ Stadium, the SCG and MCG have recently worked on.

Such technology allows fans to order food via their mobile devices, display real-time information on IPTV screens and guarantee internet connectivity.