Adelaide Oval upgrade to end mobile internet gridlock

SUPPORTING your footy team on social media or organising to meet up with mates at half-time will soon be much easier, as Adelaide Oval completes a “connectivity upgrade” in time for the first AFL game of the season.

SUPPORTING your footy team on social media or organising to meet up with mates at half-time will soon be much easier, as Adelaide Oval completes a “connectivity upgrade” in time for the first AFL game of the season.

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.

“There were times last year when people struggled to make calls because there were so many people trying to do the same thing at once.”

Mr Daniels said the upgrade would be ready for the footy season.

“We have been testing (the system) at a number of big events recently and we will be ready for the start of the football season,” he said.

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.

Mr Daniels said Telstra has spent $7 million upgrading its system at the Oval. The ­upgrade is a major step for the Oval in becoming a “connected stadium” — with similar venues in Europe and the US transforming match-day experiences.

After sluggish progress in Australia, 2015 looms as the year that the technology will make its local mark.

Earlier this month, the MCG announced its plans to roll out free Wi-Fi and a network of connection screens, following a similar installation at the SCG last year.

Trials at the MCG have seen pies ordered via smartphone and delivered to seats.

Telstra Adelaide area general manager Michael McGlashan said the company had invested significantly in upgrading its distributed antenna system at the Oval to provide better service for fans.