Verizon has been named the official telecommunications services sponsor for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027. Verizon will power the customer experience for fans, players and media across stadia and official sites, as well as provisioning additional network operations. The operator will also instate a programme to allow international visitors to access its network. Meanwhile, at the Singapore Grand Prix Formula 1 event, Singtel and Ericsson commercially deployed 5G automated radio resource portioning to offer priority network access as part of the operator’s 5G Express Pass offering.
Leveraging 5G connectivity to reinvent the experience at stadia and events is one of the touted value propositions of 5G. It also unlocks new monetisation opportunities for operators. According to a GSMA Intelligence survey , 25% of smartphone users find enhanced experiences in live venues an appealing 5G use case. Achieving this requires advanced network resources and innovations, as exhibited by Verizon and Singtel. The experience offered by Singtel was powered by real-time intelligent network resource allocation, while Verizon will draw on its robust network portfolio and established reputation as a trusted partner for sports and entertainment.