Mayo All-Ireland win drove bigger data surge than World Cup final
Both eir and Vodafone recorded a surge in data usage during and after Sunday's All-Ireland football final
The All-Ireland football final between Mayo and Kerry drove a bigger data surge than the World Cup final with communications companies recording unprecedented surges in data usage.
Both eir and Vodafone recorded a surge in data usage during and after Sunday's All-Ireland football final when Mayo finally ended a 75 year wait to win the Sam Maguire cup.
Eir reported a massive surge in data usage on Sunday as overjoyed GAA fans shared the historic news of Mayo’s Croke Park victory. Supporters all across the country took to their phones to celebrate, resulting in a 36 percent increase in data usage compared to an average day.
No surprise the celebrations were particularly visible in Mayo, where data traffic across eir's four main mobile network sites in Castlebar jumped by almost 49 percent on the night of the team homecoming, rising from 4.5TB the previous Sunday to 6.7TB.
The hotly anticipated World Cup final between Spain and Argentina generated an additional 30 percent - and not nearly the same excitement.
A spokesperson at eir, said: “To see a whopping 36 percent increase in data usage during Mayo’s historic win demonstrates just how central streaming has become to everyday life in Ireland. From unforgettable sporting moments to the television shows everyone is talking about, our customers relied on fast, reliable connectivity to stay connected wherever they were.
“Whether people were watching at home, following the match on the move, or supporting the team overseas, our networks stood up to the demand and kept Ireland connected when it mattered most. As more of our entertainment moves online, we're continuing to invest in the connectivity that keeps our customers connected to the moments that matter most.”
Vodafone Ireland recorded its highest-ever roaming data traffic peak during Sunday's All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final, as supporters across Ireland and around the world tuned in to follow one of the biggest days in the Irish sporting calendar.
Roaming traffic increased by 80 percent above the typical daily peak, making it the highest roaming traffic spike ever recorded on the Vodafone Ireland network.
With Irish communities spread across the world, major sporting moments such as an All-Ireland Final increasingly drive demand for international connectivity as supporters tune in, share reactions and celebrate together across borders.
The surge was mirrored across entertainment services, with customer viewing on Vodafone TV increasing threefold compared with a typical Sunday, as fans streamed pre-match analysis, live coverage and post-match reaction throughout the day.
Sheila Kavanagh, Network Director, Vodafone Ireland, said:
“Major sporting events continue to drive significant increases in data demand as customers stream coverage, share reactions and stay connected with friends and family. The All-Ireland Final delivered the highest roaming peak ever recorded on Vodafone Ireland's network, highlighting the growing role connectivity plays in how fans experience and share major sporting moments both at home and aboard.
“Whether customers were following the match from Croke Park, watching from home or supporting from abroad, our network was ready to handle the extra demand and keep people connected to the moments that mattered.”