High availability WiFi for highly respected horse trials competition.
When the Badminton Horse Trials (BHT) team found that their previous provider couldn’t meet expectations, they turned to Wireless Solutions for a connectivity partner capable of delivering at the highest level.
As one of the world’s most prestigious equestrian events, Badminton Horse Trials is renowned for its elite competitors, exceptional venue, and impeccable event standards. For the 2023 competition, the organisers required a WiFi solution to match that reputation — robust, high-performance, and utterly reliable.
The project demanded high-availability connectivity across four critical areas:
Production
Scoring
Traders
Live streaming for Badminton TV
Each zone carried unique technical requirements and varying tolerance for downtime — from flexible access for traders to zero interruption for the global live stream of Badminton TV. The network had to be meticulously planned and flawlessly executed, with no room for error.
With months of preparation culminating in just a few days of live eventing, connectivity was mission critical. Wireless Solutions was entrusted to design and deliver a network capable of supporting over 6,000 simultaneous device connections — powering everything from payment processing to real-time global streaming. The result was a resilient, high-capacity WiFi infrastructure that kept every aspect of the event seamlessly connected.
A new approach to WiFi
100% Uptime, come rain or shine
After a challenging year for connectivity in 2022, Badminton Horse Trials (BHT) approached Wireless Solutions to deliver a stronger, smarter WiFi solution for the 2023 event – one that could meet the demands of a truly world-class audience and venue.
As a Level 5 international eventing competition, Badminton Horse Trials is one of the most prestigious in the calendar, attracting elite riders from across the globe. Set within the stunning 52,000-acre Badminton Estate, the six-day event spans a vast and complex site that includes the grandstand, arenas, and cross-country course, alongside hospitality tents, shopping villages, VIP enclosures, media facilities, scoring and judging stations, royal boxes, and the production operations centre – the hub keeping it all running smoothly.
But the sheer size of the site was only one of the challenges. With 20,000 spectators attending each day, and over 600 traders simultaneously processing transactions, the demand on network capacity and reliability was immense. Every second of downtime could mean lost revenue – and every connection needed to perform flawlessly.
Adding to this, Badminton TV Live – the event’s global streaming platform – brought its own set of critical requirements. With over 100,000 live viewers tuning in during race days, streaming quality was non-negotiable.
Wireless Solutions was tasked with designing, deploying, and managing a resilient WiFi network capable of supporting all these operations, from high-speed payment processing to uninterrupted global live streaming – all backed by real-time monitoring and technical support throughout the event.
The solution
After months of meticulous planning, preparation, and complex network design by our technical architects, Wireless Solutions delivered exactly what Badminton Horse Trials needed – flawless connectivity throughout the 2023 event.
The result was an outstanding 100% network uptime across all six days of competition. Thanks to an enterprise-grade, high-availability network design, the WiFi remained stable and uninterrupted, even under the most demanding conditions.
Key outcomes included:
Seamless live streaming of Badminton TV, reaching audiences of over 100,000 viewers worldwide without interruption.
A fully connected Media Centre, enabling journalists and broadcasters to deliver live updates and event coverage with total confidence.
Reliable, high-speed connectivity for over 600 traders, ensuring smooth payment processing and happy customers.
Consistent performance for production crews and contractors working behind the scenes – and a proud Wireless Solutions team celebrating another successful delivery.
Even torrential rain in the days leading up to the event couldn’t disrupt the installation or the performance of the network. The dedication and foresight of our team ensured a seamless experience from start to finish, earning the trust of the BHT production team, traders, and event partners alike.
“Last year the WiFi was our biggest challenge, this year it was the weather.”
Long term partner
Following the success of the 2023 event, Wireless Solutions has become a trusted technology partner to Badminton Horse Trials. After delivering two more seamless years of connectivity, we now manage the event’s fibre network and continue to play an integral role in its ongoing digital transformation.
Together, we’re exploring new and innovative ways to harness the power of event WiFi – driving greater efficiency, enhancing visitor experiences, and ensuring that one of the world’s most prestigious equestrian events remains at the forefront of connectivity and performance.
Client Comment
Andrew Tucker
“In the years that we’ve been running Badminton Horse Trials, we had yet to find a company that could deliver connectivity that met our complex requirements. The size and layout of Badminton Estate, coupled with the demand for live streaming and hundreds of traders all needing to take payments, makes this one of the most challenging WiFi gigs on the events market .
Wireless Solutions came in and took the time to understand our requirements, plan a solution that would guarantee 100% uptime, and explore all of the requirements that we had not even thought about.
They have far outshone our previous suppliers and given us the greatest gift of being able to focus on the event with one less challenge to contend with.”
What Wireless Solutions Can Offer You
We’re committed to bringing better event WiFi to the UK market.
Here’s why we’re different.
Experienced Network design
We produce site designs to show you exactly where you'll get connectivity. By agreeing this up front, we know your requirement and make sure we deliver.
Cost management
We'll make sure your costs are managed at every stage thanks to our thorough design process. This means no nasty surprises.
Excellent track record
With 100% uptime in 2023, speak to one of our clients to hear it from the horse's mouth.
Professional team
Our team of experienced engineers will give you exceptional service, and be a pleasure to work with. We see ourselves as part of your team.
New ideas
We have ideas that go beyond just connectivity. Our experience of working with large events means that we can bring fresh ideas to your table.
Delivery that goes to plan
We have a track record of delivering to the expectations set when we agree the contract. We're always on time, on budget.
