Why can't a festival rely on cellular networks for connectivity?
Cellular networks become overwhelmed quickly when thousands of devices are concentrated in a small area. At a festival, every attendee, vendor, and production team member is trying to connect simultaneously, and the nearest cell towers simply cannot handle that volume. The result is slow or non-functional mobile data for everyone at the site. Dedicated wireless infrastructure that does not depend on the cellular network is the only reliable solution for a festival of any significant size.
How do you provide internet at a festival site with no fixed infrastructure?
For festival sites without fixed broadband or fiber, Made By WiFi deploys Starlink satellite internet as the primary connection. Starlink connects directly to low-earth orbit satellites and bypasses cellular infrastructure entirely, making it reliable even in remote locations and at high-density events where cellular is congested. For smaller activations or as a backup, 5G Hotspot Kits are also available.
How many access points does a festival need?
It depends on the size of the site, the expected attendance, and the layout of the event. A festival with multiple stages, a large vendor area, and thousands of attendees will need significantly more access points than a smaller community event. Made By WiFi conducts a site assessment before every festival deployment and designs the access point placement specifically for the site, ensuring coverage across the full footprint including vendor areas, production zones, and high-density audience areas.
Can you provide separate networks for vendors, production, and attendees?
Yes. Separate network segments for each user group are standard for every festival deployment. General attendee WiFi, vendor POS networks, production and media networks, sponsor activations, and staff communications are all kept on isolated segments, ensuring that bandwidth-intensive production applications do not affect general guest connectivity and that critical operational systems are protected from general traffic.
Do you provide WiFi for festivals outside New York and New Jersey?
Fully managed festival WiFi deployments are available in New York and New Jersey, where our team can be physically present. For festivals outside the area, our 5G Hotspot Kits are available nationwide, though we always assess whether they are the right solution for the specific event before shipping. Large-scale festivals with high device density may require a different approach, and we will advise honestly on what makes sense for your situation.
How early should festival WiFi be booked?
As early as possible. Festival deployments involve site assessments, network design, ISP or Starlink coordination, and equipment logistics that all require lead time. For large festivals, booking several months in advance is advisable. Get in touch with your event details and we will advise on timing.
Can Starlink support a large festival audience?
A single Starlink terminal can deliver significant bandwidth, but for very large festivals with thousands of simultaneous users, multiple terminals combined for increased throughput provide a more robust solution. Made By WiFi assesses the expected bandwidth demand for each festival deployment and recommends the right configuration of Starlink terminals and access points to serve the full audience.
How much does festival WiFi cost?
Pricing depends on the size of the festival footprint, the expected attendance, the number of separate networks required, the internet connection needed, the duration of the event, and whether the site has any fixed infrastructure. Get in touch with your festival details and we will provide a tailored quote.
