O2 customers first to benefit from major mobile upgrade at The O2 Belfast

• O2 customers are the first to benefit from a major mobile upgrade at The O2 Belfast, improving connectivity at one of Northern Ireland’s busiest live entertainment venues
• The new network, delivered by Boldyn Networks, is designed to boost coverage and capacity during gigs, ice hockey matches and other live events
• The upgrade will help fans use digital tickets, make mobile payments, share photos and videos, and stay connected from arrival to the journey home

O2 customers heading to gigs, ice hockey matches and other live events at The O2 Belfast will be the first to benefit from a major mobile network upgrade at the venue.

Delivered by Boldyn Networks, the new network is designed to handle the spikes in mobile demand that happen when thousands of fans arrive, move around the arena and use their phones at the same time.

The O2 Belfast welcomes more than 800,000 visitors each year and hosts major music, sport and entertainment events, making reliable mobile performance increasingly important for both fans and venue operations.

Coverage has been added across high-demand areas including the seating bowl and rink, helping fans use digital tickets, make payments, find friends, share moments from the event and stay connected on the journey home.

Professor Robert Joyce, Director of Mobile Access Engineering at O2, said: “The best connectivity is the kind customers do not have to think about. At a busy venue like The O2 Belfast, people want to get through the doors, meet friends, pay quickly and share the big moments without the network getting in the way. By bringing this enhanced mobile experience to O2 customers first, we’re helping make every visit smoother from the queue outside to the journey home.”

Paul Osborne, Chief Commercial Officer at Boldyn Networks UK, said: “Live events are where the physical and digital worlds collide. Fans come for the roar of the crowd, but they also want to share it with everyone who isn’t there. At The O2 Belfast, a premier multi-purpose venue, we’ve made those two sides work as one, so nothing gets between a fan and the moment. And we’ve built a digital foundation ready to adapt to whatever comes next, from rising visitor expectations to the technologies just over the horizon.”

Craig Barrington, Associate Director of Estates and Facilities at The Odyssey Trust, said: “As Northern Ireland’s premier live entertainment destination, we’re always looking for innovative, digital-first ways to provide our guests with the best experience every time. Fast, reliable connectivity plays a key role in ensuring that everyone who walks through our doors enjoys unforgettable moments that last a lifetime. Boldyn’s state-of-the-art Distributed Antenna System will enhance how our guests experience The O2 Belfast and will be fundamental for us moving forward.”

The new system has been deployed by Boldyn Networks and is capable of supporting all UK mobile network operators, with O2 customers the first to go live.

ENDS