Games mobile overhaul
A LANDMARK study of mobile phone usage at the MCG during the AFL grand final has helped drive Optus to up the ante in its local network overhaul before the Commonwealth Games.
Having previously committed to a $20 million upgrade of its Gold Coast network, the telecommunications firm will now invest more than $30 million in more than 400 infrastructure projects before the opening ceremony on April 4.
This includes the installation of 17 new towers near venues and key transport corridors, upgrades to 164 existing towers and temporary technology to provide network support at high-traffic locations during GC2018.
The company, which is the Games’ official support network, had initially planned to roll out about 120 such projects.
Optus vice-president Ian Smith said the extra investment came after an exhaustive review of what athletes, officials and spectators expected from their “mobile experience” at major sporting events.
“We did a trial at the AFL grand final that gave us really valuable information about the network capacity, speeds and performance you need in a big stadium when a lot of people suddenly jump on their phones to share images or videos with their family and friends,” he said. “I’ve seen research for stadiums where it can be as high as 90 per cent of (spectators) jumping on their mobiles at the same time.
“We’ve applied our minds to what the experience is going to be like … and the more we’ve understood that, the more we’ve been able to scope out what a brilliant mobile experience is going to look like during the Games.”
Mr Smith said each of the city’s existing Optus towers, including those in transport corridors, would receive a 4G network upgrade.
“(We’ve researched) what the experience is going to be like when you’re driving on (certain) roads to the Games and there’s a bit traffic,” he said.
“We’ve been able to get all the information from Goldoc around people movement and what they expect to see around (the city) during key events.
“We were always committed to upgrading our Gold Coast network (over time) but we’re scaling up the investment courtesy of the Games.”
Goldoc chief executive Mark Peters said the Optus investment aligned with the city’s vision to become an education and research hub. of (mobile)
“When Optus first sat down with us about being involved, we met with Mayor Tom Tate, senior council representatives and Griffith University,” he said. “This city is about being a smart city and education into the future so Optus has really bought into that (and) this is going to see a really strong relationship beyond the Games.”
Mr Smith said customers and businesses would start to notice faster speeds and enhanced coverage when many of the projects were “turned on” in February and March.