The Indianapolis 500 – how fans used data on their mobile devices this year

[Verizon release]

The Indianapolis 500 – how fans used data on their mobile devices this year

Verizon fans shattered last year’s record for the historic 100^th running of the race using 26 terabytes of data on their mobile devices for race weekend in 2017 – sharing photos, posting to social media and uploading videos from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The amount of data used over the race weekend is enough to stream video on 4G LTE for 8.5 years.

On race day alone this past Sunday, fans used 14 terabytes to capture all the action.

Verizon’s data network this year was boosted with the installation of Matsing Ball technology, the first of its kind at a sports venue this large. There are also 25 small cell sites permanently installed around the Speedway to improve coverage for the fans headed in and out of the track and to surrounding neighborhoods and businesses.

Quiet Execution Speaks Volumes

Verizon Wireless may not be garnering the attention it once did, when it premiered as IndyCar Series title sponsor, but they quietly doubled down, this May. Again. 

Bravo.

—Chris 

[release]

Verizon Indianapolis 500 fans shattered data usage records at the historic 100^th running

INDIANAPOLIS — Verizon customers streamed more video and shared more of their experiences at the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 than ever before over Verizon’s 4G LTE network. From Friday, May 27 to Sunday, May 29, a total of 20.8 terabytes of data moved over Verizon’s network – more than double what was used by fans in 2015. One terabyte of data is equivalent to streaming roughly 1,000 hours of online video content.

Verizon performance engineers confirmed that from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Indianapolis 500 Race Day more than 10 terabytes of data – social media, calls and texts – moved exclusively over Verizon’s network covering the track and immediate surrounding area.

The two highest data usage moments were the beginning of the race at 12:19 p.m. followed by a second spike at 1:15 p.m. when Juan Pablo Montoya’s car crashed.

In 2015, Verizon customers used 9-plus terabytes – double what was used in 2014.

“We’ve seen the amount of data used at the Indianapolis 500 double each of the past few years, which is incredible,” said Abby Knowles, executive director of network operations for Verizon’s Great Lakes Market. “Thanks to detailed analysis and planning by our network teams, we continue to meet and exceed our customer’s expectations even with dramatic increases in data use.”

Verizon was prepared for this year’s sellout crowd with its custom wireless network facility built at the track that can handle the voice and data needs for up to 400,000 fans at any given time. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway serves as the largest network footprint in the country for a single event.

Indy 500: How well did you do getting the word out?

[release]

Verizon Confirms 200 Percent Wireless Data Usage Increase at Indianapolis 500

New video released today shows the unprecedented approach used by engineers to prepare network

INDIANAPOLIS — Verizon Wireless, a technology leader with the nation’s largest and most reliable 4G LTE network, confirmed today that data usage by fans at the 2015 Indianapolis 500 saw a 200 percent increase on Race Day. Between social media, calls and texts, Verizon engineers confirmed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 24, more than 3 terabytes of data moved exclusively over the Verizon’s 4G LTE distributed-antenna-system (DAS) inside the venue. This is a 200 percent increase compared to the same window of time during the 2014 race. Engineers confirmed that over the entire weekend from Friday, May 22, to Sunday, May 24, a total of 9 terabytes of data moved over the Verizon 4G LTE DAS.

Verizon also released today an online behind-the-scenes video of the network innovations put in place for the 2015 race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), including nearly a dozen small cells around the exterior of the track to handle growing data traffic. Verizon engineers spent more than a year designing and creating a custom wireless network facility built at the track to handle the voice and data capacity for upwards to 400,000 fans sharing photos and videos on social media at a series of events. As the world’s largest sporting venue, IMS serves as the largest network footprint in the country for a single event.

“Our customers expect a strong network experience and our network engineers worked to make sure the hundreds of thousands of racing fans could do what mattered most to them: share the moment with their family and friends by calling, texting, and sharing on social media,” said Region President Lauren Love-Wright.  “The busiest moment was the start of the race where we also saw the most traffic on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. It’s clear a number of fans enjoyed sharing emails, texts, pictures and videos during the ‘Greatest Spectacle in Racing.’”

Verizon network handled the following number of social media connections during the Indianapolis 500, Sunday, May 24, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.:

·         Twitter:              6,251 data connections

·         Facebook:        17,357 data connections

·         Instagram:         145,025 data connections

On Race Day 2014, 4G LTE traffic on the Verizon Wireless network increased 300 percent at the Indianapolis 500 over usage on Race Day 2013, and Verizon customers consumed 1.4 terabytes of data at the Indianapolis 500. For comparison, 1 terabyte can include 472 hours of broadcast quality video, 150 hours of high-definition recording and enough words that it would take every adult in America speaking at the same time five minutes to say them all.

For the 2015 racing season, Verizon network engineers enhanced the following areas:

·         Introduced small cell technology to enhance the network for large crowds and data traffic by adding nearly a dozen small cells around the exterior of the track;

·         Built a custom wireless network facility at the track to handle voice and data capacity and house infrastructure directly at the speedway, including:

o    Three custom designed COPs (cell-on-platform), with a new innovative approach that includes the capacity equivalent to 7 COWs (cell-on-wheels);

o    Generator redundancies

o    30 days of battery backup on-site

o    Redundant cooling systems

o    Redundant fiber for backup

o    24/7 monitoring on-site while events underway

·         A team of Verizon engineers walked the track with modified packs to test wireless capability during the race;

·         Enhanced additional XLTE capacity in more than 38 key sectors around the track including:

o    Hospitality lot,

o    Beer Garden,

o    Verizon Fan Village,

o    Driver Garages,

o    Turn 1

·         20 new antennas added to the distributed antenna system (DAS) bringing the total antennas inside the venue to more than 200;

·         Provided an additional COW (cell-on-wheels), for tailgaters and gate traffic near 30th Street and Georgetown Road.

Verizon Continues to Improve Fan Experience at IMS

[release]

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Fans Benefit from Verizon Network Innovations

Verizon One of the First Wireless Carriers to Deploy Small Cell Technology in Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS — Verizon Wireless, a technology leader with the nation’s largest and most reliable 4G LTE network, announced today new network upgrades at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) including nearly a dozen small cells around the exterior of the track to handle growing data traffic. With upwards to 400,000 fans expected to attend a series of events sharing photos and videos on social media, Verizon engineers have been working for more than a year on an unprecedented approach. 

As the world’s largest sporting venue, IMS serves as the largest network footprint in the country for a single event. Verizon engineers created a custom wireless network facility built at the track to handle the voice and data capacity. The standalone, on-site facility utilizes advanced technology that provides three times the total capacity of the network design for the 2012 Super Bowl at Lucas Oil Stadium.

“Verizon’s network enhancements will ensure that fans can count on their mobile devices to share emails, texts, pictures and videos during the ‘Greatest Spectacle in Racing,’” said Region President Lauren Love-Wright. “Small cells are an integral part of Verizon’s commitment to the customer experience to stay ahead of the growing demand for mobile data by boosting capacity for popular venues and large crowds. This technology adds 4G LTE capacity in important high traffic areas so that our customers can share the best moments from the track, especially on social media.”

On Race Day 2014, 4G LTE traffic on the Verizon Wireless at the Indianapolis 500 network increased 300 percent over usage on Race Day 2013, and Verizon customers consumed 1.4 terabytes of data just at the Indianapolis 500. For comparison, one terabyte can include 472 hours of broadcast quality video, 150 hours of high-definition recording and enough words that it would take every adult in America speaking at the same time five minutes to say them all.

For the 2015 racing season, Verizon network engineers have enhanced the following areas:

·         Introduced small cell technology to enhance the network for large crowds and data traffic by adding nearly a dozen small cells around the exterior of the track;

·         Built a custom wireless network facility at the track to handle voice and data capacity and house infrastructure directly at the speedway, including:

1.     Three custom designed COPs (cell-on-platform), with a new innovative approach that includes the capacity equivalent to 7 COWs (cell-on-wheels);

2.     Generator redundancies

3.     30 days of battery backup on-site

4.     Redundant cooling systems

5.     Redundant fiber for backup

6.     24/7 monitoring on site while events are under way

·         Will have an on-site network monitoring center and an off-site command center the day of the Indianapolis 500;

·         A team of Verizon engineers will be walking the track with modified packs to test wireless capability during the race;

·         Enhanced additional XLTE capacity in more than 38 key sectors around the track including:

1.     Hospitality lot

2.     Beer garden

3.     Verizon Fan Village

4.     Driver garages

5.     Turn 1

·         20 new antennas added to the distributed antenna system (DAS) bringing the total antennas inside the venue to more than 200;

·         Supported faster data traffic for the entire venue, including Advanced Calling Features on devices that allow users to use HD Voice, Video Calling and Simultaneous Voice and Data (since last fall, more than 1 billion calls have been placed used Advance Calling);

·         Provided an additional COW (cell-on-wheels) for tailgaters and gate traffic near 30th Street and Georgetown Road.