Super Bowl XLVIII racks up 'Super Big Data' usage | SiliconANGLE
The game is over, the Seattle Seahawks took home the Vince Lombardi Trophy with a final score of 43-8 against the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII.
The Super Bowl is one of the biggest events in the US, so it’s not that surprising that the data uploaded and downloaded on Sunday surpassed numbers from previous years.
According to AT&T, total data usage in the stadium from fans and other spectators was more than 624GB, equating to about 1.8 million social media posts with photos, a huge increase from the 388GB usage or 1.1 million posts with photos from last year’s game. AT&T also noted that the highest data activity happened between 5-6PM, or about an hour before the game kicked-off, garnering 119GB of data being uploaded and downloaded during the said period.
Aside from data usage, AT&T also stated that attendees in the stadium made nearly 55,000 calls.
“When compared to the Big Game metrics from last year, we saw a dramatic increase in data from inside the stadium – confirming demand for mobile data is still growing at a rapid rate,” wrote AT&T.
“Fans are using their devices at these “look at me” moments and showing up ready to capture and share their memories. Since 2011 and inclusive of the last four Big Games, total data usage on AT&T’s in-stadium network has increased from 177GB to 624GB and peak hour data usage has increased from 30GB to 119GB.”
AT&T correctly predicted that data usage would be up this year, and so in preparation the company provided access to AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots and Hot Zones to ensure AT&T customers could stay connected during the game. The carrier also installed/upgraded its four DAS systems, installing a brand new Distributed Antenna System (DAS) at the stadium that allowed it to provide more than triple the capacity of the original DAS for fans at the game. It also put in place a brand new cell site at the northern end of Times Square to handle the wireless needs of the thousands of people who attended the party area ahead of the Big Game, and it rolled out nine COWs in both the stadium parking lot and other key areas.
The great thing about the upgrades being done by AT&T is that these weren’t just for the game – they’re permanent, and will continue to benefit those living in or visiting New York and New New Jersey for years to come.
About Mellisa Tolentino
Mellisa is a staff writer for SiliconAngle, covering social and mobile news. She is fascinated by technology and loves imparting what she learns through her journey as a writer. Got a news story or tip? Send it to [email protected]
View all posts by Mellisa Tolentino
Link:
Super Bowl XLVIII racks up 'Super Big Data' usage | SiliconANGLE
