4G SIM NewsEE has announced that it will be the official technology and communications partner for the iconic Glastonbury Festival 2014, which will be held from 25th to 29th June at Worthy Farm in Somerset. It will offer 4G connectivity across the festival site as well as a range of mobile charging options and a dedicated Glastonbury app.
EE is planning to deploy a bespoke 4G network across the Glastonbury festival site, allowing revellers to enjoy super-fast connectivity on their 4GEE devices, including smartphones and tablets. The network is also working with organisers of the festival to create an official app for the event to be released in June, which will include scheduling tools, an interactive map of the festival site, and integration with social media.
The EE Festival Power Bar
A new addition to the festival this year will be the EE Festival Power Bar; a portable mini charger that will provide up to five hours of mobile charging time. When the bar runs out of power it can simply be swapped for a fully charged bar at the on-site EE Exchange Cabin. The turquoise Power Bar features the EE logo and is available from the EE online accessories shop until 9th June at a cost of £20. It can be swapped free of charge, as many times as necessary throughout the duration of the festival. Although there will be a limited number of Power Bars available to buy at the festival, it is advisable to order one online in advance to avoid disappointment.
The EE Recharge Tent
In addition to the portable Power Bar, EE will also be providing the more traditional recharge tent. Festival goers on any network will be able to relax and recharge their phones in the comfort of the tent, as well as connecting to mobile Wi-Fi hotspots powered by EE’s 4G network. There will be chargers available for every type of mobile device, including retro spaces for those with older mobile handsets.
Festival Goers Now Always Online
EE was also an official partner for Glastonbury 2013 and reported a huge rise in data usage during the event. According to the 4GEE Mobile Living Index Glastonbury revellers used 40 times as much data during the 2013 festival as they had during the previous 2011 event. Whereas in previous years mobiles had simply been used to keep in contact with friends on site, mobiles are now used to share videos and photos on social networks, and to maintain continuous contact with the outside world.
According to Spencer McHugh, Brand Director at EE, “Last year we saw a huge increase in photo and video uploads on our network at Glastonbury as people shared their magical festival moments from across the site. By providing superfast 4G at the Festival alongside the launch of our new charging solution, the EE Festival Power Bar, we will make sure all those at the UK’s best-loved festival can stay connected and share content more easily and quicker than ever before.”