Faster internet alone will not transform the experiences we create. It is the combination of private 5G networks, AI and the IoT (the Internet of Things as made up of internet-connected devices that sense and respond) that offers the chance to redesign how events function, how people work and how we reconnect with one another.
From patchy Wi-Fi to private 5G
Many venues rely on patchy or overloaded Wi-Fi systems that struggle to support large audiences, high-density video streaming and/or multiple interactive installations. This forces organisers to run cables everywhere, limiting flexibility and adding complexity.
David Granite, Creative Technologist at mci’s sister agency, Dorier, explains that this is changing rapidly. “We can now replace Wi-Fi networks with private 5G network deployment. This is revolutionary for events,” he says.
Private 5G allows organisers to set up their own secure, high-capacity networks in any location. As Granite explains: “We are talking about bouncing a signal between mobile phones that have 5G, to antenna that you have deployed for your event. It's exactly the same as what you do when you go on the street and your mobile phone talks to a 5G antenna. But here, you deploy the antenna for your own private network. That's the difference. The only limitation is the distance between the antenna and the device, which is more or less the same as public 5G.”
Instead of depending on venue infrastructure or public networks, private 5G networks can deliver reliable connectivity wherever it is needed.
Imagine the new types of experiences we could design with fewer physical limitations. By replacing cables and overburdened Wi-Fi with robust wireless networks, events gain freedom. Pop-up venues, outdoor festivals, industrial and educational settings, congresses and heritage sites will all benefit as infrastructure becomes more adaptable, safer and easier to deploy.
Portable 5G hubs already make it possible to deliver wireless access without installing permanent systems. This enables organisers to support everything from seamless attendee connectivity to immersive VR and AR experiences, all with minimal setup. Recent industry analysis confirms that private 5G is moving from experimental proof‑of‑concepts to real-world deployment with early adopters, including event venues, preparing for commercial rollout in 2025. Although the pace remains cautious, the surge of interest (from mid-market organisations addressing coverage, reliability and isolation challenges) signals that private 5G is increasingly seen as a viable alternative in live environments.
This isn’t theoretical. Since 2022, Verizon has been providing Formula 1 events and the Indianapolis 500 with private 5G to manage connectivity, and last year Crystal Palace FC enhanced accessibility for visually impaired fans with 5G-enabled vision systems.
Enabling automation and personalisation
5G’s real potential lies in enabling a vast network of connected devices that can collect, analyse and act on data in real time: a foundation for true automation and personalisation at events.
Granite describes a world where “different touch points have their own understanding of the environment and their mission, and are therefore more efficient”. In practice, this could mean predictive maintenance of venue systems, automated crowd management or personalisation of experiences for each attendee. For example, Vodafone trials in UK stadiums show how 5G-powered IoT can reduce waiting times at concessions, cut CO₂ emissions through smarter logistics, and personalise fan experiences via apps.
5G enables more decentralised architectures such as peer-to-peer communication. This allows devices at an event to talk directly to each other without routing everything through a central server. The result is lower latency, greater resilience and enhanced privacy, supporting real-time responsiveness in everything from lighting control to security systems.
Imagine an event where environmental conditions, lighting and sound adjust automatically based on audience movement or mood. Or a venue that alerts staff before a maintenance issue becomes critical. The integration of AI with IoT devices creates smarter spaces that anticipate needs rather than simply responding to them.
Freeing people to do what only humans can do
Automation often sparks fear about lost jobs, but Granite offers a more nuanced view. “This optimisation, when taken to its full potential, automatically leads to a change in the scope of work for some people. It will change the way they work. We are still in the era of supervised AI, meaning that any work that you do with an AI needs to be related to your expertise so that you can assess the output of the AI,” he explains.
This shift is less about eliminating workers and more about transforming their roles. AI will still need human supervision and expertise to ensure quality and relevance. Freed from repetitive or logistical tasks, staff can focus on what they do best: creating memorable experiences, connecting with attendees and delivering the human touch that no machine can replicate.
Preparing for a post-device world
Another key insight Granite shares is about the future of personal devices themselves. We currently spend hours staring at smartphone screens, but he believes that this is a transitional phase, an awkward moment in technological history.
“This hand-held device is going to disappear. We are not going to have phones anymore. We are going to have glasses that are connected. We are going to blend those worlds permanently,” he predicts.
He describes a clear progression beyond the smartphone: connected glasses that overlay information seamlessly onto our view, smart contact lenses that further blur the boundary between digital and physical, and eventually even embedded chips. Technology will disappear from our hands and pockets, integrating instead into how we see, move, engage and interact.
He believes we’re in the middle of “a 30-year transition in which two generations are sacrificed”, forced to adapt to an unnatural, screen-focused way of living before more intuitive, human-centred interfaces mature.
The next generation of event experiences will need to adapt to wearable and immersive interfaces, creating environments that respond naturally to gestures, voice, gaze and thought. This shift will transform how content is delivered, how people connect with each other and how organisers design spaces for genuine, shared experience.
These ideas are not as distant as they may sound. At Coachella, one of the world’s largest music festivals with 250,000 attendees in 2024, augmented reality was woven directly into live performances. Lux Machina created a precise 3D digital twin of the festival grounds, enabling AR graphics to float above stages and sweep through crowds during sets by artists like Grimes, Anyma and DJ Snake. Festival-goers experienced these visuals through smartphones and large on-site screens, while audiences watching online saw the AR elements integrated into the live stream. It's easy to imagine a future where glasses are optimised for AR and holding up a phone is no longer required. The potential of a combined VR, AR and haptic experience driven by 5G technology is an early glimpse of the connected future Granite predicts.
Redefining connection
According to Granite, the integration of 5G, the IoT and AI offers the chance to remove the barriers that keep us apart and reclaim time for human connection.
He challenges the assumption that spending eight hours a day in front of a computer has inherent value. “You can decide to look at it in a dystopian way… or decide that maybe it's not losing jobs, but it's about focusing on what life should be. Maybe in 40 years our grandchildren will laugh when they hear that we were working 40 hours a week. A little bit like us looking at the Middle Ages and thinking, ‘What? They didn't have weekends?’ I think this will be exactly the same.”
He suggests that technology could help us imagine a world with less compulsory work, more freedom and a new approach to value itself. “I can see this leading us to universal income where you get ownership over every AI you’ve trained, and some kind of IP royalties based on that. At the end of the day we may work only two days a week but create more value than before. This world that we love so much maybe is the Middle Ages.”
He describes this transition as an opportunity to redefine what really matters: more time for human relationships and shared experiences. As he puts it elsewhere, “AI and automation and 5G and IoT might help us get rid of these imperatives that we have for keeping infrastructure or logistics and all of that will be automated. At the end of the day, we will have more time to spend with human beings.”
The events industry stands at the threshold of remarkable change. Private 5G networks, AI and IoT offer the chance to rethink what events are for and how they can serve people better. By freeing us from physical constraints, repetitive tasks and outdated interfaces, this technology can help us reconnect with what truly matters: meaningful human engagement.
If we embrace this vision, we can design events that are not only more seamless and immersive but also more humane.
Let’s build smarter, more connected experiences together. Partner with mci group for personalised event journeys and data-driven strategy.
David Granite - Creative Technologist, Dorier Group
