· event-wifi, events
A conference with a thousand phones, laptops, and payment terminals is one of the hardest WiFi environments there is. Here is the checklist we run through when supporting events like the FOSSASIA OpenTech summit, where our largest deployment served over 550 concurrent users across 13 rooms.
1. Count devices, not attendees
Every attendee brings two to three devices, and registration desks, speakers, streaming rigs, and point-of-sale systems add more. Plan capacity for 2.5× headcount, and assume the keynote room holds most of them at once.
2. Separate networks for separate jobs
Attendee WiFi, staff operations, and payment systems should never share a network. Distinct SSIDs with firewalling between them keep a congested guest network from taking down ticket scanning — and keep payment traffic isolated for compliance.
3. Use 5G backhaul for instant deployment
Venues rarely have cabling where you need it. 5G SIM-based backhaul lets access points go exactly where the crowd is — registration lobbies, breakout rooms, outdoor areas — with no trenching or lead time.
4. Brand the connection moment
A captive portal is the first thing every attendee sees. Use it: sponsor logos, the event schedule, or a social wall turn a utility into a marketing surface.
5. Demand on-site support
Radio conditions change when a room fills with bodies. Have your provider present before doors open, watching channel utilization and moving capacity to where the crowd actually is.
Planning an event? Talk to us about billing that only counts the days the equipment is used.
