- O2 adds distributed antenna system and small cells to upgrade Wembley’s connectivity
- Network improvements aim to support 2.5 million expected visitors over summer
What happened: O2 rolls out 5G network to power Wembley’s busy summer
O2 has upgraded its mobile network at Wembley Stadium with a dedicated 5G standalone (SA) network. The system uses a distributed antenna network to deliver reliable, high-speed coverage across the entire stadium. Fans in stands, concourses and hospitality areas will have strong mobile access throughout their visit. O2 also added seven new small cells and upgraded two towers near the stadium for better outdoor coverage.
The upgrade comes ahead of a “blockbuster” summer, according to O2, with major events at Wembley. These include the FA Cup Final, multiple Oasis concerts, and a headline show by Dua Lipa. Wembley, with 90,000 seats, is expected to receive over 2.5 million visitors this summer. Such huge crowds create heavy demand for reliable, high-speed mobile services during events.
The network upgrade supports not just calls and messages, but also heavy data use by fans. It enables smoother video streaming, clearer video calls, and quicker mobile payments. Digital ticketing and app-based services will also benefit from the improved connectivity. Fans increasingly expect seamless mobile performance while attending large-scale live events.
Also read: EE deploys 5G Standalone network at Wembley Stadium
Also read: Virgin Media O2 trials open RAN at Twickenham Stadium
Why it is important
This network expansion is part of O2’s ongoing Mobile Transformation Plan, a national strategy to improve mobile performance in high-traffic areas. The plan includes a £2 billion investment in both fixed and mobile infrastructure by 2025 under the VMO2 umbrella.
O2’s network director, Robert Joyce, said the investment would give customers a “huge capacity boost” during what he called one of Wembley’s “biggest summers in living memory.” The operator expects more than 2.5 million visitors to the stadium over the season. Beyond Wembley, O2 is also improving coverage along key UK transport routes. Notably, the operator recently helped deliver 5G connectivity through tunnels on the East Coast Main Line near King’s Cross—a first for operational UK railways. That deployment involved a distributed antenna system installed in partnership with LNER, Network Rail and others, according to O2’s official announcement.
As high-capacity mobile experiences become the norm at major venues, O2’s move signals growing competition among UK operators to dominate connectivity at the country’s top event spaces.
