The Indy 500, one of the most anticipated motorsport events, is set to take place this Sunday, 24 May. The iconic track is bracing for a massive influx of spectators eager to witness the thrilling action live.
Last year, the event drew around 350,000 enthusiasts, who collectively shared a staggering 61TB of data over their mobile connections. This year, Verizon has invested considerable effort into enhancing the 5G infrastructure at the track, achieving a 400% increase in bandwidth by upgrading the radio hardware.
Verizon has planned meticulously to ensure a seamless experience for attendees from the outset. With paper tickets becoming obsolete, fans are required to load digital tickets onto their phones. To facilitate this, 33 specialised small cells have been installed at the main gates to expedite the process.
The track, spanning 559 acres (2.3 square kilometers), now features 240 5G mmWave nodes. Additionally, 219 high-capacity antennas have been added, and local cell towers have been upgraded to meet the latest 5G standards. Real-world testing conducted before the event has demonstrated that the local network can achieve download speeds exceeding 1 Gbps, with the potential to reach up to 2.5Gbps under optimal conditions.
