Let’s paint the picture—you’ve landed the ticket of the year. Whether it’s Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour, Tomorrowland, or the world’s biggest tech conference, you’re buzzing. You arrive, snap a selfie at the entrance, try to post it… and nothing. Your phone’s stuck on “Loading.” Or worse, “No service.” Welcome to the chaos of mobile networks at major events.

We’ve all been there. The moment thousands of people gather in one place, the mobile signal dies. Not because your phone’s broken or your provider hates you—it’s because everyone is trying to do the same thing at once. Call friends. Post stories. Use maps. Open the event app. Stream a set. All on a network that’s sweating harder than you in the crowd.

But what if that ticket you bought—that golden QR code—came with something extra? Something smart, digital, and invisible: an eSIM preloaded with data, ready to give you reliable connectivity no matter how overloaded the venue gets?

We think it should. Every event ticket should come with an eSIM.

Wait, what’s an eSIM again?

Let’s get the tech bit out of the way first. An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a digital version of the plastic SIM card in your phone. But instead of swapping tiny chips, you just download a mobile plan directly to your device—no physical card needed, no need to go to a shop or wait for shipping.

It’s already built into most new smartphones, tablets, and even some wearables. iPhones, Pixels, and Samsung Galaxy devices—they’re eSIM-ready. And you can activate it in seconds, often just by scanning a QR code.

So now imagine your concert ticket also includes that QR code—one that gives you fast, dedicated data for the duration of the event. No stress. No SIM swapping. Just pure signal bliss.

Why Do Events Need This?

Let’s be real: mobile networks crash at big events because they’re not designed to handle tens of thousands of people uploading HD videos at the same time in the same square kilometer.

Even if there are extra towers brought in for the day (which, to be fair, some big events do), it’s still patchy. You walk 10 feet, and you’re either in a digital black hole or suddenly have four bars. It’s like signal roulette.

Now think about all the things that depend on that signal:

• Digital-only tickets (yep, the one you can’t open now)
• Event apps with schedules, maps, and artist info
• Cashless payments for food, drinks, merch
• Meeting up with friends who’ve wandered off
• Capturing the moment on Instagram, TikTok, or BeReal

It’s not just annoying—it can seriously mess with your experience.

The Fix: Event-Specific eSIMs

Here’s the big idea: what if events partnered with eSIM providers to preload every ticket with a short-term data plan? Think of it like a digital goodie bag—1 GB of high-speed data, valid from the moment gates open until the encore ends (or the afterparty dies down). Just scan, install, and you’re online.

The benefits? Oh, they’re juicy.

• Dedicated Bandwidth: Events could work with network partners to create their own mobile “lanes” using local or private LTE/5G spectrum.
• Instant Access: Forget struggling with bad Wi-Fi or roaming data—just scan and go.
• Global Inclusion: International attendees (hello, tourists and tech delegates) don’t need to panic about roaming costs. Their eSIM is ready the second they arrive.
• Better Experience for Everyone: Smoother ticket scanning, faster payments, fewer lost friends.

And it’s not some wild, futuristic idea. It’s already technically possible—airports offer eSIMs on arrival, conferences provide digital passes with embedded data, and eSIM providers are rolling out creative travel bundles. So why not events?

But would people actually use it?

Short answer: yes. If it’s included in the ticket and takes 10 seconds to activate, why wouldn’t they?

Think about how fast people adopt convenience when it’s friction-free. If the eSIM setup is as easy as scanning a QR code and clicking “Install,” most folks will jump at it — especially after they realize their regular SIM has been rendered useless by network congestion.

Plus, for digital nomads, influencers, and event-goers who live online, being disconnected isn’t an option. Events that offer this will win loyalty fast.

A Win-Win for Organizers, Too

Let’s flip the script — what’s in it for event organizers?

• New Revenue Streams: Partner with eSIM providers and offer premium data packages or upsells. Your event becomes a data reseller.
• Better Crowd Management: Real-time maps, alerts, and updates work better when people are actually connected.
• Smoother Operations: From ticket scanning to vendor payments, a stable network helps everything run more efficiently.
• Happy Attendees = Better PR: People remember how easy (or frustrating) an event felt. Connectivity is a big part of that.

Plus, adding an eSIM layer is much cheaper than trying to scale up physical mobile infrastructure every time.

The Future of Events Is Connected

Picture this: you buy a ticket to a massive music festival. A few days before the event, you get an email — “Your ticket now comes with free mobile data!” It walks you through scanning your code. You install the eSIM, and boom — a few hundred MBs just for you, valid on site, on local networks, and fast.

No app crashing. No buffering. No “Send failed.”
Just music, memories, and the freedom to share it all in real time.

Final Thoughts esim for events

In a world where everything is digital—from tickets to payments to memories—events can’t afford to leave connectivity to chance. The eSIM revolution is already here, and events are the perfect place to make it shine.

So here’s a not-so-radical proposal:
Every event ticket should come with an eSIM.
It’s simple. It’s scalable. And it solves a problem we’ve all faced too many times.

Because in 2025, no one should be holding up their phone in the air, hoping to catch a bar of signal like it’s 2009. Let’s move forward—one event, one eSIM at a time.

Vodafone UK is already testing private networks at Glastonbury; Three UK has run eSIM trials at music festivals to improve attendee connectivity—that is something to start!

Want to see how this could work in practice? Events, eSIM startups, and network partners—let’s talk. There’s a whole new layer of experience waiting to be unlocked.