{"id":26052,"date":"2026-07-29T08:25:54","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T07:25:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/newsroom\/?p=26052"},"modified":"2026-07-29T08:26:05","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T07:26:05","slug":"connectivity-plays-its-part-lessons-from-2026-world-cup-that-spain-should-consider-for-2030","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/newsroom\/press-release\/connectivity-plays-its-part-lessons-from-2026-world-cup-that-spain-should-consider-for-2030\/","title":{"rendered":"Connectivity\u00a0Plays\u00a0Its\u00a0Part:\u00a0Lessons\u00a0From 2026 World Cup\u00a0That Spain\u00a0Should\u00a0Consider for 2030\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>New&nbsp;GSMA Intelligence&nbsp;research&nbsp;examines how 5G,&nbsp;eSIM&nbsp;and digital services shaped the fan experience during the 2026 World Cup<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>45% of mobile contract customers are interested in tariffs that guarantee enhanced network performance<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Lessons from the US, Canada and Mexico provide a useful reference for Spain as it prepares to host the 2030 World Cup<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Madrid, 29 de julio de 2026:<\/strong>\u00a0The 2026 FIFA World Cup turned stadiums, airports, host cities and\u00a0<em>fan zones<\/em>\u00a0across the US,\u00a0Canada\u00a0and Mexico into a major testing ground for telecommunications networks. The report\u00a0<strong><em>\u2018World Cup 2026: are operators the\u00a0game-changers?\u2019<\/em><\/strong>, produced by GSMA Intelligence, examines the role played by operators and draws lessons that could be especially relevant for future\u00a0tournaments.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the GSMA Intelligence report, connectivity is now an integral part of both the fan experience and the&nbsp;event\u2019s&nbsp;operations, from accessing content and navigating host cities to broadcasting, security and refereeing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The report highlights how operators strengthened networks across stadiums,&nbsp;airports&nbsp;and host cities through&nbsp;additional&nbsp;5G and Wi-Fi infrastructure and capacity upgrades. It also points to the role of 5G Standalone, private networks, edge&nbsp;computing&nbsp;and IoT in supporting critical services during major sporting events.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>From the connected stadium to the complete fan journey<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The report notes that the opportunity for operators extended beyond ensuring coverage inside stadiums.&nbsp;It&nbsp;identifies&nbsp;services that can support fans throughout their journey, from arriving in the host country to entering the venue and following the match.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Travel\u00a0eSIMs:\u00a0<\/strong>According to GSMA Intelligence\u2019s 2025 Global Consumer Survey, 12% of consumers who had travelled internationally in the previous 12 months used an\u00a0eSIM\u00a0while abroad. Of these, more than 70% used a travel\u00a0eSIM\u00a0provided by a mobile operator.<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Experience-based tariffs:\u00a0<\/strong>45% of mobile contract customers are interested in performance-based plans, including options such as higher upload speeds, priority access, on-demand speed\u00a0boosts\u00a0and guaranteed low latency.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Network-native services:\u00a0<\/strong>The report highlights T-Mobile US\u2019s launch of Live Translation as an example of a network-native service. It provides real-time translation without requiring users to install a dedicated app or use specific device hardware, helping improve the experience of international visitors at large-scale events.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Figures published separately by US operators provide&nbsp;additional&nbsp;context on the scale of the challenge. Verizon reported&nbsp;nearly 500&nbsp;TB of data across stadiums during the World Cup, including 29.2 TB during the final, with upload traffic rising by almost 70% at half-time. AT&amp;T reported&nbsp;nearly one&nbsp;petabyte of traffic across US host cities and more than 99% reliability for voice and data after preparing its network for two to three times normal traffic levels.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A reference point for Spanish stadiums and cities<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The report\u2019s findings also highlight the challenges future host locations will need to address. 5G Standalone, private networks, edge computing and the Internet of Things can support services such as VAR, live broadcasting, digital signage, connected cameras, drones, crowd&nbsp;management&nbsp;and connected ambulances.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cThe main lesson from the 2026 World Cup is that future hosts should not approach connectivity solely as a capacity exercise. The real value lies in designing infrastructure that can guarantee critical services, support fans throughout their journey and continue to&nbsp;benefit&nbsp;cities after the tournament ends&nbsp;while also recognizing opportunities to deliver valuable services beyond connectivity. For Spain, 2030&nbsp;represents&nbsp;an opportunity to turn network investment into a lasting asset for other major events and for the digital economy,\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;said&nbsp;Peter Jarich, Head&nbsp;of GSMA&nbsp;Intelligence.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To read the full report and access further data on how technology is reshaping the sports ecosystem, visit&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gsmaintelligence.com\/research\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">GSMA Intelligence Research<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>-ends-<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Notes to Editors<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>About GSMA Intelligence<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">GSMA Intelligence is the definitive source of global mobile industry data,&nbsp;analysis&nbsp;and forecasts, covering every operator group,&nbsp;network&nbsp;and MVNO across more than 200 markets. Its direct access to real-world data from GSMA member operators makes it an unrivalled industry reference.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>About GSMA\u202f<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The GSMA&nbsp;is a global&nbsp;organisation&nbsp;unifying the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver innovation foundational to positive business environments and societal change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry, and society thrive.&nbsp;Representing&nbsp;mobile operators and&nbsp;organisations&nbsp;across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA&nbsp;delivers for&nbsp;its members across three broad pillars: Connectivity for Good, Industry Services and Solutions, and Outreach. This activity includes advancing policy, tackling today\u2019s biggest societal challenges, underpinning the technology and interoperability that make mobile work, and providing the world\u2019s largest platform to&nbsp;convene&nbsp;the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events. We invite you to find out more at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">gsma.com<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New&nbsp;GSMA Intelligence&nbsp;research&nbsp;examines how 5G,&nbsp;eSIM&nbsp;and digital services shaped the fan experience during the 2026 World Cup&nbsp; 45% of mobile contract customers are interested in tariffs that guarantee enhanced network performance&nbsp; Lessons from the US, Canada and Mexico provide a useful reference for Spain as it prepares to host the 2030 World Cup&nbsp; Madrid, 29 de julio [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":116,"featured_media":25758,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"algolia_discover_type":[],"class_list":["post-26052","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press-release"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.0 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