BT Group
BT Group

Moments of connection

From live sporting events and major gaming launches to blockbuster TV releases and glittering pop concerts; 2024 has been a year of connection. Throughout some of the biggest moments of the year, the British public has laughed, cried and cheered together from the comfort of their own sofa and at iconic stadiums and venues across the country.


Network Wrapped explores how people across the UK have engaged with the year’s biggest virtual and physical events across sport, music, gaming, TV, arts and politics and how we – as a nation – have used technology to connect, share, and celebrate these moments.


Scroll through to discover how the nation has come together, one connection at a time.

Taylor Swift performing on stage at Wembley Stadium in front of 90,000 fans.

56 %

of people in the UK say live sporting events are the most important cultural moments of the year - more important than the general election.

£155

Average spent by fans attending live events in the UK on top of ticket price.

42%

The UK falls out of love with queuing as more than a third of people find it to be the most frustrating aspect of attending event venues and festivals across the UK.

Decorative image
Selection of short clips showing mobile infrastructure at major event venues, including Wembley Stadium, Silverstone and the Royal Welsh Showground.

46%

of multi-tasking men have been caught secretly watching a live event on their smartphone, with some admitting to having done it at weddings, funerals, and christenings.

15m

fans have benefitted from EE’s purpose-built connectivity at Wembley Stadium.

Decorative image

23,500

is the capacity of the new Co-Op Live Arena, one of several major venues where EE has enhanced its connectivity including Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Villa Park, Murrayfield, Twickenham and many more.

200m +

devices connect to BT Group’s networks every year.

Stories

Taylor Swift performing on stage at Wembley Stadium in front of 90,000 fans.
EE mobile mast at Silverstone racetrack with cars racing in the background.
Robbie Williams performing on stage in front of a sold-out arena.
Young woman video-calling on her smartphone in Edinburgh city centre with people walking behind her.
Young couple smiling while taking a selfie on a smartphone at a music festival.
Football fan shares a photo on his smartphone during a football match at Watford FC.
Family of five, including two parents and three young children, sat together on a sofa celebrating while watching television.
Man in aqua shirt streaming on his tablet on a park bench with trees in the background.
Group of young people smiling while huddled around a smartphone at a music festival.
Taylor Swift performing on stage at Wembley Stadium in front of 90,000 fans.
EE mobile mast at Silverstone racetrack with cars racing in the background.
Robbie Williams performing on stage in front of a sold-out arena.
Young woman video-calling on her smartphone in Edinburgh city centre with people walking behind her.
Young couple smiling while taking a selfie on a smartphone at a music festival.
Football fan shares a photo on his smartphone during a football match at Watford FC.
Family of five, including two parents and three young children, sat together on a sofa celebrating while watching television.
Man in aqua shirt streaming on his tablet on a park bench with trees in the background.
Group of young people smiling while huddled around a smartphone at a music festival.
Taylor Swift performing on stage at Wembley Stadium in front of 90,000 fans.
EE mobile mast at Silverstone racetrack with cars racing in the background.
Robbie Williams performing on stage in front of a sold-out arena.
Young woman video-calling on her smartphone in Edinburgh city centre with people walking behind her..
Young couple smiling while taking a selfie on a smartphone at a music festival.
Football fan shares a photo on his smartphone during a football match at Watford FC.
Family of five, including two parents and three young children, sat together on a sofa celebrating while watching television.
Man in aqua shirt streaming on his tablet on a park bench with trees in the background.
Group of young people smiling while huddled around a smartphone at a music festival.
Taylor Swift performing on stage at Wembley Stadium in front of 90,000 fans.
EE mobile mast at Silverstone racetrack with cars racing in the background.
Robbie Williams performing on stage in front of a sold-out arena.
Young woman video-calling on her smartphone in Edinburgh city centre with people walking behind her.
Young couple smiling while taking a selfie on a smartphone at a music festival.
Football fan shares a photo on his smartphone during a football match at Watford FC.
Family of five, including two parents and three young children, sat together on a sofa celebrating while watching television.
Man in aqua shirt streaming on his tablet on a park bench with trees in the background.
Group of young people smiling while huddled around a smartphone at a music festival.
Taylor Swift performing on stage at Wembley Stadium in front of 90,000 fans.
EE mobile mast at Silverstone racetrack with cars racing in the background.
Robbie Williams performing on stage in front of a sold-out arena.
Young woman video-calling on her smartphone in Edinburgh city centre with people walking behind her.
Young couple smiling while taking a selfie on a smartphone at a music festival.
Football fan shares a photo on his smartphone during a football match at Watford FC.
Family of five, including two parents and three young children, sat together on a sofa celebrating while watching television.
Man in aqua shirt streaming on his tablet on a park bench with trees in the background.
Group of young people smiling while huddled around a smartphone at a music festival.
Read story
Decorative image.
Decorative image.
Decorative image.
Decorative image.
Currently showing slide number 01 out of 09

Looking ahead to 2025

2025 is shaping up to be a big year for British sports fans, with the Women’s UEFA European Championships, Six Nations rugby, the British Grand Prix, Wimbledon and so much more in the calendar.  Music fans are also in for a treat with highly anticipated performances from a reunited Oasis at Wembley Stadium set to dominate the summer. That’s not forgetting global gaming launches like Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, Fable and Grand Theft Auto 6 all slated for release next year.


With a quarter of the UK planning to engage with even more events in 2025, there will be greater demand for reliable mobile and Wi-Fi connectivity at home and in-venue.


Whether you're a football fanatic, a music lover, or a gaming guru, there will be something for everyone. Here’s to another year of connection and unforgettable moments!

Type of events the UK public are most looking forward to in 2025:

Decorative image.

Over the next five years, mobile data usage is forecast to grow between 15% and 28% as venues, event organisers and consumers take advantage of improved connectivity provided by 5G standalone to deliver cutting-edge live experiences.

Decorative image.

With split-screeners and multi-taskers on the rise, 2025 may see yet more record traffic peaks on our broadband network.

The top 3 biggest peaks in traffic on our fixed network so far in 2024 were:

Decorative image.
Taylor Swift performing on stage at Wembley Stadium in front of 90,000 fans.
Robbie Williams performing on stage in front of a sold-out arena.
Young couple smiling while taking a selfie on a smartphone at a music festival.
Family of five, including two parents and three young children, sat together on a sofa celebrating while watching television.
Man in aqua shirt streaming on his tablet on a park bench with trees in the background.
Group of young people smiling while huddled around a smartphone at a music festival.

Making the most of the biggest moments

The UK is a nation of planners, with nearly two thirds of the population (61%) spending up to two hours preparing to attend live events. While 14% of Brits are ultra-organised as they spend more than three hours devising their game plan, which includes researching travel routes, setting up group chats, and chatting to fellow event goers on social media.

Currently showing slide number out of
Currently showing slide number out of

Making the most of the biggest moments

The UK is a nation of planners, with nearly two thirds of the population (61%) spending up to two hours preparing to attend live events. While 14% of Brits are ultra-organised as they spend more than three hours devising their game plan, which includes researching travel routes, setting up group chats, and chatting to fellow event goers on social media.