There are multiple elements needed to make an event successful. But if there’s one thing that successful events do have in common – it’s good connectivity. NEP Connect (formerly known as SIS LIVE) recommends these tips.

Whether it’s broadband internet access for use by attendees or production crews, live event streaming to ensure high quality, rich coverage of events as they happen, or on-site pin payment terminals, having good connectivity is an essential part of a successful event.

Lack of connectivity on site remains one of the most common and frustrating issues at events and this is normally down to a lack of budget or not spotting potential issues like high usage due to a mobile app or streaming.

Gone are the days where wi-fi is a nice to have, or an additional luxury – today’s population expect to be able to get online. With that in mind, it’s alarming how many venues invest half-heartedly in connectivity and fail to deliver an adequate service as the bandwidth simply isn’t sufficient for the number of people trying to access it.

Most venues will have connectivity but will it be strong enough for your needs? A serious amount of preparation is required to supply a world-class connection.

Connectivity at festivals

At festivals a live broadcast is something that is pretty standard, however, the connectivity needs to be tailored to meet the individual needs of production teams, sponsors, security staff, media, artists and attendees – whether it’s a small local festival or one of the biggest festivals of the year. Nowadays, everyone can be involved – all thanks to the huge range of TV and web coverage on offer.

Live event streaming is an increasingly popular and cost-effective way to bring your event to global internet audiences, offering high quality, rich coverage of events as they happen on a multitude of platforms. This is great news for consumers at home but it also helps the event’s brand and its partners.

Given their size, these events don’t tend to happen in built-up cities where the necessary networking infrastructure already exists – the big challenge is to link from large rural spaces where the demand for mobile network capacity spikes massively over the space of a few days. Public networks are not an option – and this is why satellite technology is used. It ensures data can be transmitted from the location with no concerns about quality consistency or security.

Similar on-demand technology like this can be used in other areas of a festival as well. Adding dedicated Wi-Fi will make it possible to run everything from connected payment systems to on-site cash machines, all helping to improve attendee experience and keep everything running smoothly.

Connectivity at conferences and exhibitions

Good connectivity isn’t only for festivals. With options including live streaming, many businesses are now using connectivity to boost their own marketing endeavors. This medium has become increasingly popular and is being utilised in a wide range of events, from conferences to universities streaming educational seminars. Could you be reaching a wider audience? One of the most rewarding benefits of live streaming is increasing your reach. Any event you hold will always have physical restrictions no matter what or where it is. By allowing it to be viewed by anyone who has a stable internet connection, you are giving access to an audience that wouldn’t have otherwise been able to participate.

Streaming webinars and interviews is a fantastic way to strengthen your position as a leader in your field while simultaneously raising your profile in front of peers. If you are streaming content live for a one time only event your stream becomes a rare and urgent entity. Online users tend to take little action towards content they can access on a regular basis, but if your stream is only available at one moment in time, its urgency can create quite a stir on the web.

Not only that, if you have a new advertisement or product coming out and you launch it via multiple marketing channels, you’re guaranteed to see your reach skyrocket. Big brands such as Apple, Nestle and Doritos (among many others) are using it to their advantage, and so can you! You could interact with millions of people in hundreds of locations around the world, showing them how your product works, how it was developed and explaining its uses. How’s that for raising brand awareness and potentially attracting new customers?!

So whatever event you’re planning, whether it’s a festival, exhibition or conference, it’s imperative to have good connectivity. Not only does it create a better and richer experience for your guests, participants will be able to access better communication and most importantly, be able to share the buzz and excitement of your event in real time.

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