Deutsche Telekom has deployed a mobile network upgrade at Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s BayArena ahead of the new Bundesliga season.
As a result, the move will support thousands of fans trying to get online during matches.
The upgrade includes 41 new antennas installed above the stands of the stadium, alongside 14 separate mobile sectors being divided at the 30,000-capacity stadium.
Fifteen antennas cover the lower tier and 26 serve the upper tier. The system supports both 4G (LTE) and 5G across frequencies between 800 and 3,600 MHz, the telecoms giant revealed.
The installation work started as soon as last season ended and includes five kilometres of high-frequency cable, along with new cable trays, distribution boxes and four operations rooms.
The upgrade also covers areas outside the main stands. Three additional microcells have been installed along busy routes around the BayArena to provide extra capacity as supporters arrive before games and leave afterwards.
Coverage has also been improved in the players’ changing rooms and other parts of the stadium.
Mathias Poeten, responsible for mobile network expansion at Deutsche Telekom, said: “When the BayArena is rocking, the network has to deliver – instantly. In the first ten seconds after a goal, it’s decided whether a fan can send their video or is staring at the loading bar. A stable, fast network is now an essential part of the stadium experience.
“That’s why we’re creating the necessary capacity at the BayArena so that tens of thousands of fans can be online quickly and reliably at the same time.”
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