We've been keeping an eye on how 5G is rolling out across the UK, and BT's latest move at the Royal Welsh Show shows what's possible when the network gets a dedicated boost.
What BT's doing on site
At this year's show, BT and the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society have switched on 5G+ network slicing. It carves out a protected slice of the mobile network so payments, livestreams and uploads keep working even when 250,000 visitors pile in.
Two Welsh food businesses, Radnor Hills and Fire and Flank, are already using the slice for their card machines. No more queues stalling because the network's jammed.
Quotes from the ground
Chris Butler, Marketing Manager, Radnor Hills, said: “The Royal Welsh Show is one of the most important events in our calendar, both as a proud Welsh business and a long-standing supporter of the Show itself. With thousands of visitors stopping by our stands every day, dependable connectivity for our payment systems is essential to keeping queues moving and making sure customers can quickly grab a drink and get back to enjoying their day. Having a dedicated 5G+ network slice gives us greater confidence that we can continue serving people smoothly, even during the busiest periods – helping us keep visitors refreshed and hydrated throughout the event.”
David Evans, Founder and Director, Fire and Flank, said: “This is our first time exhibiting at the Royal Welsh Show, so we're excited to introduce Fire & Flank to such a large audience. When demand is high, the last thing any business wants is connectivity issues slowing down card payments or creating long queues. Reliable connectivity for our ePOS systems helps us serve customers quickly, deliver a great experience and focus on what matters most – sharing our food with visitors. It's reassuring to know that the technology powering our payments is designed to perform, even in one of the busiest event environments in Wales.”
Why it matters for the rest of us
BT says the same tech will be offered to customers later this summer. For now it's a big demo of how slicing can keep things running smoothly at packed events.
If you're shopping around for a new mobile plan, it's worth checking which networks are pushing 5G+ hardest in your area.
