England's dramatic World Cup win against Mexico in the early hours of Monday morning triggered an unprecedented surge in mobile phone and internet usage across the UK, according to network operator VodafoneThree.
Data traffic spikes during key matches
VodafoneThree reported massive increases in data traffic during peak times of the tournament, with the Mexico match generating the most notable boom. Broadband usage tripled between 3am and 4am as Brits tuned into the delayed match, while mobile data usage doubled between 4am and 5am as fans who watched the game in pubs and public spaces shared photos and videos of their celebrations with friends who were watching or waking up elsewhere.
England's last-32 victory against DR Congo also saw a 30% spike in mobile data usage compared to an average Wednesday evening commute in June. Broadband traffic increased by 9% as customers streamed the match at home, in the office, or at local venues.
Network resilience praised
Andrea Dona, chief network officer at VodafoneThree, said the network was coping well with the unusual usage patterns caused by Harry Kane and the team's quest for glory. 'Across the World Cup, our network has been providing fast, strong and reliable coverage whatever time of the day the game is shown here in the UK,' she said.
England are set to continue their campaign for a first World Cup win since 1966 against Norway on Saturday night, with another victory expected to provoke further online celebrations. 'As England fans prepare for the big match at the weekend, we continue to ensure our customers have the coverage they need to enjoy the occasion,' Dona added. 'Whether it's streaming the match, sharing their thoughts on social or discussing the result with friends and family, it's all part of our commitment to building the UK's best network.'
