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Fears of mobile phone meltdown during Olympics Fears of mobile phone meltdown during Olympics
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Disruption caused by the collapse of the O2 mobile network has led to fresh fears that London's mobile phone networks will "fall over" during the 2012 Olympic Games, leaving spectators and people living near Olympic venues unable to make calls, access the internet on their phones or use other mobile services.Disruption caused by the collapse of the O2 mobile network has led to fresh fears that London's mobile phone networks will "fall over" during the 2012 Olympic Games, leaving spectators and people living near Olympic venues unable to make calls, access the internet on their phones or use other mobile services.
Five million visitors are expected to attend the Games, and LOCOG, the organising committee, has charged BT with installing free Wi-Fi in 500,000 hotspots around London. But experts are still warning that the huge influx of people could not only affect mobile usage at the Olympic venues, but also in nearby residential areas.Five million visitors are expected to attend the Games, and LOCOG, the organising committee, has charged BT with installing free Wi-Fi in 500,000 hotspots around London. But experts are still warning that the huge influx of people could not only affect mobile usage at the Olympic venues, but also in nearby residential areas.
Steven Hartley, an analyst at Ovum Telecoms Strategy, said there could be problems in areas surrounding the Olympic venues and other hotspots such as London Bridge station. "If people spill into a neighbouring site, they will be relying on Britain's existing infrastructure, which is running on technology that has been surpassed regularly in the last few years – we don't even have a 4G network, for example," he said. "The risk is that the minute you start relying on legacy infrastructure, you're in trouble. It's a worry.Steven Hartley, an analyst at Ovum Telecoms Strategy, said there could be problems in areas surrounding the Olympic venues and other hotspots such as London Bridge station. "If people spill into a neighbouring site, they will be relying on Britain's existing infrastructure, which is running on technology that has been surpassed regularly in the last few years – we don't even have a 4G network, for example," he said. "The risk is that the minute you start relying on legacy infrastructure, you're in trouble. It's a worry.
"I've been asking the network operators how they have prepared for this and they've been unable to tell me – as an analyst, it's a huge concern. It looks to me as though they are crossing their fingers. If you put a lot of people in one place, things tend to fall over.""I've been asking the network operators how they have prepared for this and they've been unable to tell me – as an analyst, it's a huge concern. It looks to me as though they are crossing their fingers. If you put a lot of people in one place, things tend to fall over."
In recent years, the increasing numbers of people attending festivals such as Glastonbury has caused mobile networks in the affected area to seize up, making it impossible to make calls and resulting in texts taking a day or more to arrive.In recent years, the increasing numbers of people attending festivals such as Glastonbury has caused mobile networks in the affected area to seize up, making it impossible to make calls and resulting in texts taking a day or more to arrive.
But during the Olympics Hartley said it is more likely that the 3G internet network would be hit by the huge numbers of people wanting to upload photos and videos. This could leave people unable to access the internet on their mobiles. He also speculated that if there was sufficient traffic to bring down an operator's back-end systems, "then you have an issue where whole networks can go down, and that means no calls or texts, as with O2 recently".But during the Olympics Hartley said it is more likely that the 3G internet network would be hit by the huge numbers of people wanting to upload photos and videos. This could leave people unable to access the internet on their mobiles. He also speculated that if there was sufficient traffic to bring down an operator's back-end systems, "then you have an issue where whole networks can go down, and that means no calls or texts, as with O2 recently".
When O2's network systems crashed on Wednesday 11 July, hundreds of thousands of customers were left unable to make or receive calls and texts, and without internet access. One effect was that Londoners experienced difficulties in using Transport for London's cycle hire scheme, the "Boris Bikes".When O2's network systems crashed on Wednesday 11 July, hundreds of thousands of customers were left unable to make or receive calls and texts, and without internet access. One effect was that Londoners experienced difficulties in using Transport for London's cycle hire scheme, the "Boris Bikes".
BT, the sole provider of public Wi-Fi at the Olympic Park, has been charged with providing 500,000 Wi-Fi hotspots across the capital for the Olympics. Wi-Fi is cheaper and faster than 3G internet and most mobiles are programmed to switch from phone masts to Wi-Fi where it is available. The hope is that it will absorb vastly increased web traffic during the Olympics.BT, the sole provider of public Wi-Fi at the Olympic Park, has been charged with providing 500,000 Wi-Fi hotspots across the capital for the Olympics. Wi-Fi is cheaper and faster than 3G internet and most mobiles are programmed to switch from phone masts to Wi-Fi where it is available. The hope is that it will absorb vastly increased web traffic during the Olympics.
The US Super Bowl between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots in February 2012 prompted the most data usage ever for a sporting event, at more than 500 GB, according to Paul Cooper of media and technology advisers Clarity. "Mobile phone users uploaded more data than they downloaded," he explained. "This is important because Britain's current networks are designed so that there is more download capacity than upload capacity. AT&T, the American phone company, had to invest substantially in new capacity to cope with the demand. And at the Beijing Olympics four years ago, internet traffic during the opening ceremony was five times normal levels." The US Super Bowl between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots in February 2012 prompted the most data usage ever for a sporting event, at more than 500GB, according to Paul Cooper of media and technology corporate finance advisers Clarity. "Mobile phone users uploaded more data than they downloaded," he explained. "This is important because Britain's current networks are designed so that there is more download capacity than upload capacity. AT&T, the American phone company, had to invest substantially in new capacity to cope with the demand. And at the Beijing Olympics four years ago, internet traffic during the opening ceremony was five times normal levels."
The number of social media users and smartphones has grown exponentially since the 2008 Beijing Games. According to Clarity, in early-2008 Facebook had 60 million users, but by May 2012 it had 900 million users, with more than half accessing Facebook via a mobile device. The number of social media users and smartphones has grown exponentially since the 2008 Beijing Games. According to Clarity, in early 2008 Facebook had 60 million users, but by May 2012 it had 900 million users, with more than half accessing Facebook via a mobile device.
Cooper believes the explosion in the popularity of smartphones coupled with the increased number of visitors to London for the Olympics will inevitably lead to people's data connections slowing.Cooper believes the explosion in the popularity of smartphones coupled with the increased number of visitors to London for the Olympics will inevitably lead to people's data connections slowing.
"The operators are pretty well prepared at the main sites," Cooper said. "But if you ask me if having more traffic than the operators have ever handled before could lead to a catastrophic failure, I'd have to answer yes.""The operators are pretty well prepared at the main sites," Cooper said. "But if you ask me if having more traffic than the operators have ever handled before could lead to a catastrophic failure, I'd have to answer yes."
Hartley could not say which operators are better-placed than others, but he did state: "Given its recent problems, you'd probably argue that O2 must be doubling its efforts now."Hartley could not say which operators are better-placed than others, but he did state: "Given its recent problems, you'd probably argue that O2 must be doubling its efforts now."
O2, whose network is piggy-backed by mobile service providers giffgaff and Tesco Mobile, said it had invested £50m in its network to help cope with the increased demand during the Olympics.O2, whose network is piggy-backed by mobile service providers giffgaff and Tesco Mobile, said it had invested £50m in its network to help cope with the increased demand during the Olympics.
A spokesman said: "As an industry, we have been planning for over two years, and O2 alone has invested £50m in London 2012 – increasing capacity on the current network and building new temporary sites across the country. On top of that, Wi-Fi will also play a huge role for those people who will want to use data services at the Games, including Facebook and Twitter."A spokesman said: "As an industry, we have been planning for over two years, and O2 alone has invested £50m in London 2012 – increasing capacity on the current network and building new temporary sites across the country. On top of that, Wi-Fi will also play a huge role for those people who will want to use data services at the Games, including Facebook and Twitter."
Everything Everywhere (EE), which operates the integrated Orange and T-Mobile network, said: "We've invested millions of pounds to ensure a good experience for both British and international visitors to the Olympics.Everything Everywhere (EE), which operates the integrated Orange and T-Mobile network, said: "We've invested millions of pounds to ensure a good experience for both British and international visitors to the Olympics.
"We've also increased measures in place to maintain service and operational stability during the Games. Additional field maintenance resource in the areas of the country most affected are in place, alongside dedicated incident managers to ensure a very rapid response to any service-affecting incidents.""We've also increased measures in place to maintain service and operational stability during the Games. Additional field maintenance resource in the areas of the country most affected are in place, alongside dedicated incident managers to ensure a very rapid response to any service-affecting incidents."
A spokeswoman for Virgin Mobile, which also runs off the EE network, stated: "We're thoroughly prepared for the Olympics right across our business and we're working with our network partner to ensure the best experience for our customers during the Games."A spokeswoman for Virgin Mobile, which also runs off the EE network, stated: "We're thoroughly prepared for the Olympics right across our business and we're working with our network partner to ensure the best experience for our customers during the Games."
Stuart Newstead, spokesperson for the Mobile Experience Group, which represents all UK operators in the UK, said all companies had been working together for two and a half years to get as much capacity into and around the Olympic venues as possible.Stuart Newstead, spokesperson for the Mobile Experience Group, which represents all UK operators in the UK, said all companies had been working together for two and a half years to get as much capacity into and around the Olympic venues as possible.
"UK operators have been adding extra capacity to their backhaul networks and adding additional carriers and sectors to antennas to meet the expected demand. But it is an unprecedented level of demand, and all we can say is that we are as prepared as we can be.""UK operators have been adding extra capacity to their backhaul networks and adding additional carriers and sectors to antennas to meet the expected demand. But it is an unprecedented level of demand, and all we can say is that we are as prepared as we can be."
But Phil Kendall, at Strategy Analytics, said: "The reality is that if you are at an Olympic site during the games you are going to notice slower connections and congestion some of the time. Beyond the mobile networks, the Wi-Fi networks are also going to be tested."But Phil Kendall, at Strategy Analytics, said: "The reality is that if you are at an Olympic site during the games you are going to notice slower connections and congestion some of the time. Beyond the mobile networks, the Wi-Fi networks are also going to be tested."