The invisible motor driving major events

The Atlético de Madrid-Real Madrid derby at the Metropolitano is about to begin, and the area around the stadium is bustling with fans. It is difficult to move through the red and white crowd filling this concrete coliseum. Meeting up with my sister before the game is quite a challenge.

We had both arrived on the underground, and we communicated by phone during the trip, surprisingly without interruptions despite the massive number of users. Upon arrival, we try to find each other next to the iconic Atlético de Aviación plane, but the area is packed. We decide to move away a little and share our location via WhatsApp, grateful that the network continued to work flawlessly.

We share the excitement of the match live with 70,000 other people who are sending photos of the atmosphere, watching action replays or posting their comments on their favourite social network. As we head home, swept along by the tide of people filling the carriages every few minutes, mobile connectivity is again key for reading analyses, sharing videos or debating the controversy of the day. I can’t help reflecting on the importance of the infrastructure that allows such spaces, which normally hold very few people, to suddenly become perfectly connected pop-up cities.

Connectivity at large events is no longer a luxury but a basic necessity, whether it is a packed football match, a Taylor Swift concert or the Olympic games. In all of them, attendees share, send and search for information in real time. According to recent data, 80% of mobile traffic is generated in densely populated indoor spaces such as stadiums. This is where technologies such as DAS (Distributed Antenna Systems) come into play, ensuring connectivity in saturated or underground environments.

And it is in this arena that Cellnex is leading the revolution, rolling out neutral networks that allow all mobile operators to use the same infrastructure. This model not only improves the user experience, but also optimises logistics and boosts the economic impact in the area. These solutions have proven to be essential in iconic venues such as the Metropolitano, San Siro in Milan or the Paris metro as it adapted to the recent Olympic Games.

In addition to mass events, these technologies are also transforming hospitals, shopping centres and historic buildings into fully connected spaces. A notable example is the Old War Office in London, where Cellnex installed 160 mini antennas that blend into the surroundings to offer 4G and 5G connectivity without altering its protected structure.

Telecommunications are no longer just a technical tool – they are the invisible motor that redefines the way we experience the world. They are essential for social interaction, logistics and security. And as we plan our next adventure at the Springsteen concert in Milan, it’s clear that these technologies will continue to drive both innovation and our everyday lives.