Every event professional has heard that story: the one where the ticketed entry system didn’t work, the cashless systems went down, the live stream failed…the list goes on, and the one common denominator is the organiser failing to procure fast, reliable and secure event WiFi.
Yes, the cost of producing an event has spiralled over the last few years, with the rising cost of living affecting the entire UK economy. The event industry is no exception, with energy, transport, catering, labour and venue costs seeing an average of 10% increase across the board, not to mention the escalating cost of event insurance, which had already increased by up to 30% post-Covid and shows no sign of slowing down.
However, with the increased use of technology for essential elements of an event, event WiFi has become a necessity for most events. The problem is that some organisers are still making the procurement process a race to the bottom, which could end up doubling the cost. Noba regularly get calls for emergency WiFi and internet from panicked event organisers and businesses as the cost of bad procurement decisions leading to broken connectivity becomes acutely evident.
Cheap event WiFi is cheap for a reason and can have multiple perils and drawbacks that event organisers and brands should be aware of. These include:
- Unreliable Connectivity – Low-cost event WiFi providers may cut corners on infrastructure and equipment, leading to unreliable connectivity. This can result in frequent disruptions, slow internet speeds, and a poor overall user experience.
- Insufficient Bandwidth – Cheap event WiFi services might not provide enough bandwidth to support the growing number of connected devices at an event. This can lead to slow internet speeds, dropped connections, and frustration for vendors and others who rely on a stable connection.
- Security Concerns – Inexpensive event WiFi services may not prioritise robust security measures. This makes the network more vulnerable to data breaches and unauthorised access to sensitive information shared over the network.
- Limited Technical Support – Budget event WiFi providers may offer limited technical support, making it challenging to resolve connectivity issues quickly. This lack of support can lead to extended downtime during critical moments of an event.
- Unqualified Engineers – Poor service providers may employ cheap, unqualified, or unsupported trainee engineers to install networks. This is all fine until it isn’t when they cannot rectify problems with the event WiFi during a live event!
- Inadequate Scalability – If the event WiFi infrastructure is not designed to scale easily with the increasing number of users and devices, it can lead to congestion and performance issues.
- Inconsistent Coverage – Cheap event WiFi solutions may not provide consistent coverage throughout the event venue. Dead zones or areas with weak signals can result in a subpar experience, particularly in wider-scale or multi-level venues.
- Brand Reputation Impact – Poor quality of event WiFi can jeopardise an entire event. If the internet connection is unreliable or slow, it can negatively impact the reputation of the event and the brands associated with it.
- Hidden Costs – Some budget event WiFi providers may initially offer low prices but then introduce hidden costs for additional features, technical support, or increased bandwidth. Organisers should be cautious about the total cost of ownership and potential add-on fees.
- Competition for Spectrum – In crowded event spaces, there might be a competition for available radio frequencies. Cheap event WiFi solutions may not effectively manage interference, leading to degraded user performance.
- Compliance Issues – In some cases, low-cost event WiFi solutions might not comply with local regulations and industry standards. This can result in legal issues and fines for event organisers.
To mitigate these perils, event organisers should carefully evaluate their event WiFi needs, consider the reliability and security of potential providers, and allocate an appropriate budget for a robust and scalable network infrastructure.
If you are unsure of what your requirement for internet and event WiFi may be, Noba offers a connectivity consultancy service, which is the latest addition to our expanding portfolio of services, helping brands understand event network infrastructure and how to design connectivity solutions in line with their requirements.
Call the team to discuss your next project WiFi on 0345 612 3008
