Thousands of festival-goers at one of the region’s best-loved summer gatherings stayed connected despite its location in a notorious data no-go area – thanks to the efforts of Bath-based full-fibre broadband provider Truespeed.
The firm provided the network and wi-fi connectivity for Valley Fest, the three-day celebration of music, food and relaxation in the Chew Valley countryside.
Its rural setting could have been an issue for the event’s small businesses – from pizza and burger vendors, to yoga instructors and spas – but Truespeed’s ultrafast speeds and wi-fi connectivity meant they were able to trade successfully.
It also meant festival-goers were able to share their festival experiences with photos and videos in real time.
With the event operating 100% cashless, everyone in the 10,000-strong crowd who wanted one was given an RFID-enabled wristband which also served as a digital-wallet.
So anyone making a purchase was able to pay quickly and securely by connecting to the official festival wi-fi network.
Truespeed also provided a safe and secure network for all vendors and traders to accept contactless payments at the festival, whose headline acts included Soul II soul and Bananarama.
Valley Fest organiser Luke Haswell said: “Before we partnered with Truespeed, we were having constant issues with card machines breaking down, resulting in long queues and unhappy festival goers.
“With Truespeed providing onsite wi-fi and connectivity, we’ve resolved these issues for both festival guests and traders.
“People have been able to share their festival experiences with photos and videos in real-time and there have been fewer queues at the bar and vendor stalls, resulting in very happy festival attendees.”
The partnership between Truespeed and Valley Fest, now in its second year, marks the broadband provider’s ongoing commitment to support community events and organisations.
Since its launch in Bath in 2014 as a community interest company, Truespeed has connected more than 150 schools and community hubs to its full fibre network.
Last year it expanded its network to a further 25,000 properties, taking the total cumulative network to more than 91,000 across the South West.
The business also reported a significant increase in connected customers, with 17,000-plus customers live on its network.
Truespeed chief commercial officer Nelson Missier said: “Valley Fest is a hugely popular festival with a venue that has struggled with substandard connectivity for years.
“We’re excited to link this stunning and remote festival venue with ultra-reliable connectivity for the second year running, providing festival-goers and traders with access to 10Gbps wi-fi.
“Whether it’s through sharing festival pictures or accepting real-time cashless payments, Truespeed’s broadband has elevated the Valley Fest experience by providing ultrafast data and connectivity to thousands of people and local businesses.”
Truespeed aims to more than double the size of its network this year, targeting more than 120,000 properties while also doubling the number of connected customers.
