News | 08 Aug 2024

Hassle-free network trial for Boardmasters festivalgoers with eSIM

Festivalgoers at the Cornish seaside event can dip their toes into Vodafone’s network, free for seven days, without having to change their phone numbers.

People going to the Boardmasters Festival in Newquay, Cornwall, will be able to try Vodafone’s mobile network for free. Using eSIM technology, which does away with the need for a physical SIM card, festivalgoers who aren’t already Vodafone UK customers can get 50GB of mobile data, 500 minutes and 500 texts for seven days​. Whether they can’t get signal with their current network or just want to try Vodafone’s, they can do so without having to change their phone number.

To take advantage of the eSIM trial, festivalgoers should look out for the dedicated QR codes which will be posted at various points across the festival site. Vodafone has bolstered mobile signal around the site of  Boardmasters Festival using COWs. These temporary mobile masts, that can be transported from place-to-place, have been deployed at dozens of gigs, festivals and events across the UK over the summer to meet the surge in demand for connectivity from attendees.

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Vodafone’s temporary masts and eSIM network trial were also at Glastonbury Festival 2024. People attending that event used a total 225TB of data over Vodafone’s network, more than any other year at Worthy Farm so far. Even at festivals that aren’t as vast as Glastonbury, demand for mobile data was sizable, highlighting the need for constant investment in Vodafone’s network. At Kendal Calling, the average eSIM trial participant used around 1GB of mobile data each.

The company’s commitment to Cornwall doesn’t end once Boardmasters is over, as Vodafone has been investing in its network across the south west for years. For example, the mini-mast at Fistral Beach, which is part of the festival site, provides 4G signal for locals and visitors year-round. Vodafone is also upgrading thousands of masts across the south west of England with OpenRAN technology.

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