Hitting the Bullseye
WiFi for a major event may sound like a challenge, but for our partner Systems, it is no problem at all. Together with the WiFi experts from Asteas and the IACBOX software, several thousand visitors browse the Internet at the Biathlon World Championships in Antholz. We were on site.
The grandstands are already well filled with fans and spectators; the weather is wintry, but the electric atmosphere in the stadium will keep us warm. We are at the Südtirol Arena Alto Adige in Antholz, at an altitude of 1,600 meters, where the Biathlon World Championships are taking place from February 12 to 23. Today is the 7th day of competition, and the men’s individual event is about to begin. It is our first time here, while IACBOX is already attending for the fifth time. A competition like this is all about dynamics, adaptability, and speed—and that is exactly what we expect from the guest WiFi as well.
Coaches, athletes, media representatives, and, not least, the many spectators expect not only an exciting competition, but also stable, high-performance, and free Internet access. Nowadays, this is no longer standard only in hotels or restaurants. Reliable WiFi should seamlessly integrate into all areas of life: from hospital stays to train journeys, from the workplace to public spaces, and at events such as rock concerts or sports tournaments. Information is accessed or shared by the second. Spectators want to share their experiences by posting photos and videos on Facebook or Instagram. Journalists send reports and results directly from the venue to their editorial desks or publish them online. A flood of data must be managed, requiring the infrastructure, devices, and compatible software to align seamlessly. This calls for professionals—something the organizers of the Biathlon recognized years ago; they collaborate with local experts such as our South Tyrolean partner company Systems . Thanks to their many years of experience, they master the challenges of such a major event. It is essential to handle a large, constantly fluctuating number of spectators and the resulting volume of traffic, all while taking into account that users move across expansive grounds. The network is provided by the specialists at Systems, and the software by the WiFi experts at Asteas.
We meet with Matthias, one of the Systems technicians who are on site throughout the event. Before it began, they set up the WiFi network, and during the event, they monitor and manage the entire environment. Matthias shows us the deployed servers and explains that 25 access points are distributed throughout the stadium. In addition, two IACBOX systems, each with an unlimited user license, are in use. The activated modules include External Login API for the landing page, Application Control PRO, which provides insights into user numbers and data consumption while offering other useful statistics, and with the help of Bandwidth Management , browsing volume is limited to 6 GB per day and ticket. Matthias reports that last year an impressive 2.4 terabytes of data were transferred during the competition days—even more are expected this year. Speaking of data: the privacy settings in the WebAdmin of the IACBOX ensure that all stored data is anonymized and deleted after a defined period. The login page was designed by the IACBOX technical team according to our partner’s specifications. For brand recognition, it reflects the event organizer’s website design and features their logos as well as those of the WiFi sponsors. As the login method, Free Login was selected, allowing users to connect to the WiFi free of charge.
Back in the grandstand, we test the free guest Internet for ourselves and activate WiFi on our mobile phones. The login page immediately appears …
… and with a click on the login button, we are online. That was a success; now we can sit back and enjoy the atmosphere in the stadium—all that remains is for the athletes to show what they can do.
IACBOX Event License
Are you planning to equip a major event with Internet access for spectators and the press? With the IACBOX Event License, you receive the complete package for your next event’s WiFi solution. We provide a login page template where guests can find not only the login interface, but also external content such as program information, weather updates, and more. Logos, sponsors, and links to their websites can also be included and integrated into the template according to your requirements. Users can be authenticated via external interfaces, activated via Social Login, brought online directly through the login page, or provided with access credentials distributed or sold in advance or at the event. In the post-event review, reports in the WebAdmin provide valuable insights into user numbers and data consumption.