Optus Stadium outfitted with 5G connectivity

Perth’s Optus Stadium has become the first sporting venue in Western Australia to be 5G enabled.

VenuesWest, on behalf of the Western Australia State Government, together with Optus and VenuesLive, has announced that ultra-fast 5G connectivity has been switched on throughout key areas of Optus Stadium, including the pitch, corporate suites and seating areas.

According to Optus, the stadium is the first commercial building in Australia (excluding Optus retail stores) and the first sporting venue in Western Australia to be 5G enabled.

Fans who have a 5G handset will benefit from the newly switched on 5G technology with a more reliable video and app streaming experience, even when 60,000 people are uploading images and streaming video of an event to social media channels.

Optus says 5G is an ideal network solution for stadiums, enabling large numbers of users in a crowd to connect simultaneously, and it is part of the company’s network rollout strategy to enable new experiences across multiple industries such as sports and entertainment.

“5G will be transformative in the home, at work and when we are at play, like cheering on your team or singing along to your favourite artist,” said Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin. “This next-generation technology has the potential to revolutionise the way sport and live entertainment is enjoyed.”

President of Nokia Mobile Networks Tommi Uitto said that while “access to public events has been impacted in the current environment, Optus’ 5G network will ensure extraordinary 5G experiences for all in readiness for spectators filling stadiums to capacity again”.

“5G is set to transform the way we now watch sport and live performances as well as how we connect with everyone, while also significantly enhancing the fan’s first experience,” added Sport & Recreation Minister Mick Murray.

“It has been an exciting partnership with Optus as our naming rights partner, with many additional benefits such as added technology support and funding,” the Minister said.

“I would like to thank the team at VenuesWest and VenuesLive for coordinating the rollout of this exciting new technology together with Optus, and providing an incredible fan’s first experience.”

Optus has also integrated 5G into the popular Optus Stadium Tour package, offering an immersive and interactive experience for tour patrons that will enhance the stadium experience.

Using a Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, the tour will initially include a day-to-night view of the stadium, including its light show, using augmented reality run over 5G… with plans to launch additional content over the coming months.

Optus says it has more than 1000 5G sites switched on nationwide, with more than 100 of these in Western Australia.

Images courtesy Optus.