The Indianapolis 500 – how fans used data on their mobile devices this year

[Verizon release]

The Indianapolis 500 – how fans used data on their mobile devices this year

Verizon fans shattered last year’s record for the historic 100^th running of the race using 26 terabytes of data on their mobile devices for race weekend in 2017 – sharing photos, posting to social media and uploading videos from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The amount of data used over the race weekend is enough to stream video on 4G LTE for 8.5 years.

On race day alone this past Sunday, fans used 14 terabytes to capture all the action.

Verizon’s data network this year was boosted with the installation of Matsing Ball technology, the first of its kind at a sports venue this large. There are also 25 small cell sites permanently installed around the Speedway to improve coverage for the fans headed in and out of the track and to surrounding neighborhoods and businesses.

Quiet Execution Speaks Volumes

Verizon Wireless may not be garnering the attention it once did, when it premiered as IndyCar Series title sponsor, but they quietly doubled down, this May. Again. 

Bravo.

—Chris 

[release]

Verizon Indianapolis 500 fans shattered data usage records at the historic 100^th running

INDIANAPOLIS — Verizon customers streamed more video and shared more of their experiences at the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 than ever before over Verizon’s 4G LTE network. From Friday, May 27 to Sunday, May 29, a total of 20.8 terabytes of data moved over Verizon’s network – more than double what was used by fans in 2015. One terabyte of data is equivalent to streaming roughly 1,000 hours of online video content.

Verizon performance engineers confirmed that from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Indianapolis 500 Race Day more than 10 terabytes of data – social media, calls and texts – moved exclusively over Verizon’s network covering the track and immediate surrounding area.

The two highest data usage moments were the beginning of the race at 12:19 p.m. followed by a second spike at 1:15 p.m. when Juan Pablo Montoya’s car crashed.

In 2015, Verizon customers used 9-plus terabytes – double what was used in 2014.

“We’ve seen the amount of data used at the Indianapolis 500 double each of the past few years, which is incredible,” said Abby Knowles, executive director of network operations for Verizon’s Great Lakes Market. “Thanks to detailed analysis and planning by our network teams, we continue to meet and exceed our customer’s expectations even with dramatic increases in data use.”

Verizon was prepared for this year’s sellout crowd with its custom wireless network facility built at the track that can handle the voice and data needs for up to 400,000 fans at any given time. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway serves as the largest network footprint in the country for a single event.

Indy 500: How well did you do getting the word out?

[release]

Verizon Confirms 200 Percent Wireless Data Usage Increase at Indianapolis 500

New video released today shows the unprecedented approach used by engineers to prepare network

INDIANAPOLIS — Verizon Wireless, a technology leader with the nation’s largest and most reliable 4G LTE network, confirmed today that data usage by fans at the 2015 Indianapolis 500 saw a 200 percent increase on Race Day. Between social media, calls and texts, Verizon engineers confirmed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 24, more than 3 terabytes of data moved exclusively over the Verizon’s 4G LTE distributed-antenna-system (DAS) inside the venue. This is a 200 percent increase compared to the same window of time during the 2014 race. Engineers confirmed that over the entire weekend from Friday, May 22, to Sunday, May 24, a total of 9 terabytes of data moved over the Verizon 4G LTE DAS.

Verizon also released today an online behind-the-scenes video of the network innovations put in place for the 2015 race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), including nearly a dozen small cells around the exterior of the track to handle growing data traffic. Verizon engineers spent more than a year designing and creating a custom wireless network facility built at the track to handle the voice and data capacity for upwards to 400,000 fans sharing photos and videos on social media at a series of events. As the world’s largest sporting venue, IMS serves as the largest network footprint in the country for a single event.

“Our customers expect a strong network experience and our network engineers worked to make sure the hundreds of thousands of racing fans could do what mattered most to them: share the moment with their family and friends by calling, texting, and sharing on social media,” said Region President Lauren Love-Wright.  “The busiest moment was the start of the race where we also saw the most traffic on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. It’s clear a number of fans enjoyed sharing emails, texts, pictures and videos during the ‘Greatest Spectacle in Racing.’”

Verizon network handled the following number of social media connections during the Indianapolis 500, Sunday, May 24, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.:

·         Twitter:              6,251 data connections

·         Facebook:        17,357 data connections

·         Instagram:         145,025 data connections

On Race Day 2014, 4G LTE traffic on the Verizon Wireless network increased 300 percent at the Indianapolis 500 over usage on Race Day 2013, and Verizon customers consumed 1.4 terabytes of data at the Indianapolis 500. For comparison, 1 terabyte can include 472 hours of broadcast quality video, 150 hours of high-definition recording and enough words that it would take every adult in America speaking at the same time five minutes to say them all.

For the 2015 racing season, Verizon network engineers enhanced the following areas:

·         Introduced small cell technology to enhance the network for large crowds and data traffic by adding nearly a dozen small cells around the exterior of the track;

·         Built a custom wireless network facility at the track to handle voice and data capacity and house infrastructure directly at the speedway, including:

o    Three custom designed COPs (cell-on-platform), with a new innovative approach that includes the capacity equivalent to 7 COWs (cell-on-wheels);

o    Generator redundancies

o    30 days of battery backup on-site

o    Redundant cooling systems

o    Redundant fiber for backup

o    24/7 monitoring on-site while events underway

·         A team of Verizon engineers walked the track with modified packs to test wireless capability during the race;

·         Enhanced additional XLTE capacity in more than 38 key sectors around the track including:

o    Hospitality lot,

o    Beer Garden,

o    Verizon Fan Village,

o    Driver Garages,

o    Turn 1

·         20 new antennas added to the distributed antenna system (DAS) bringing the total antennas inside the venue to more than 200;

·         Provided an additional COW (cell-on-wheels), for tailgaters and gate traffic near 30th Street and Georgetown Road.

Verizon Continues to Improve Fan Experience at IMS

[release]

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Fans Benefit from Verizon Network Innovations

Verizon One of the First Wireless Carriers to Deploy Small Cell Technology in Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS — Verizon Wireless, a technology leader with the nation’s largest and most reliable 4G LTE network, announced today new network upgrades at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) including nearly a dozen small cells around the exterior of the track to handle growing data traffic. With upwards to 400,000 fans expected to attend a series of events sharing photos and videos on social media, Verizon engineers have been working for more than a year on an unprecedented approach. 

As the world’s largest sporting venue, IMS serves as the largest network footprint in the country for a single event. Verizon engineers created a custom wireless network facility built at the track to handle the voice and data capacity. The standalone, on-site facility utilizes advanced technology that provides three times the total capacity of the network design for the 2012 Super Bowl at Lucas Oil Stadium.

“Verizon’s network enhancements will ensure that fans can count on their mobile devices to share emails, texts, pictures and videos during the ‘Greatest Spectacle in Racing,’” said Region President Lauren Love-Wright. “Small cells are an integral part of Verizon’s commitment to the customer experience to stay ahead of the growing demand for mobile data by boosting capacity for popular venues and large crowds. This technology adds 4G LTE capacity in important high traffic areas so that our customers can share the best moments from the track, especially on social media.”

On Race Day 2014, 4G LTE traffic on the Verizon Wireless at the Indianapolis 500 network increased 300 percent over usage on Race Day 2013, and Verizon customers consumed 1.4 terabytes of data just at the Indianapolis 500. For comparison, one terabyte can include 472 hours of broadcast quality video, 150 hours of high-definition recording and enough words that it would take every adult in America speaking at the same time five minutes to say them all.

For the 2015 racing season, Verizon network engineers have enhanced the following areas:

·         Introduced small cell technology to enhance the network for large crowds and data traffic by adding nearly a dozen small cells around the exterior of the track;

·         Built a custom wireless network facility at the track to handle voice and data capacity and house infrastructure directly at the speedway, including:

1.     Three custom designed COPs (cell-on-platform), with a new innovative approach that includes the capacity equivalent to 7 COWs (cell-on-wheels);

2.     Generator redundancies

3.     30 days of battery backup on-site

4.     Redundant cooling systems

5.     Redundant fiber for backup

6.     24/7 monitoring on site while events are under way

·         Will have an on-site network monitoring center and an off-site command center the day of the Indianapolis 500;

·         A team of Verizon engineers will be walking the track with modified packs to test wireless capability during the race;

·         Enhanced additional XLTE capacity in more than 38 key sectors around the track including:

1.     Hospitality lot

2.     Beer garden

3.     Verizon Fan Village

4.     Driver garages

5.     Turn 1

·         20 new antennas added to the distributed antenna system (DAS) bringing the total antennas inside the venue to more than 200;

·         Supported faster data traffic for the entire venue, including Advanced Calling Features on devices that allow users to use HD Voice, Video Calling and Simultaneous Voice and Data (since last fall, more than 1 billion calls have been placed used Advance Calling);

·         Provided an additional COW (cell-on-wheels) for tailgaters and gate traffic near 30th Street and Georgetown Road.

The Right Call: Recycle an Old Cell Phone for Good

That old cell phone stuck in a shoe, in your closet. The charging cord that gets you tangled up in knots every time you open your junk drawer. What to do?

Responsibly recycle it, eliminate clutter, and help an awesome cause. The best part? You hardly have to do a thing—just bring it to the track.

Verizon, INDYCAR, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway are announcing a HopeLine drive, for the month of May, to raise critical funds and awareness for domestic violence prevention. 

HopeLine from Verizon offers the public an opportunity to help prevent domestic violence by donating no-longer-used wireless phones and accessories—in any condition and from any carrier. Wireless phones given to HopeLine are refurbished and recycled in an environmentally sound way generating proceeds going toward financial support of domestic violence awareness and prevention programs. Verizon also donates phones through HopeLine–complete with service–to local domestic violence agencies or law enforcement agencies for use by domestic violence survivors. 

How to do it:
Just drop any unwanted cell phones and accessories at Indianapolis Motor Speedway gates 1, 3, 9 or 10-A, on the following days in May: 

• Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis, Saturday, May 9
• Indianapolis 500 Qualifications, Saturday, May 16
• Old National Armed Forces Pole Day, Sunday, May 17
• Coors Light Carb Day, Friday, May 22
• Indianapolis 500, Sunday, May 24

In return, a substantial HopeLine grant will be presented by Verizon to the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence to immediately replenish its Emergency Housing and Transportation Survivor Fund.

Tweet a photo of your donation using the hashtag #VZHopeLineIN.

HopeLine from Verizon Statistics (since 2001):

• 11.4 million+ phones collected nationwide
• $29 million+ cash grants provided to domestic violence organizations
• 190,000+ phones donated to domestic violence victims and survivors

You make the call. Let your old cell equipment languish in a drawer, or put it to good use.

You're a superstar!

Chris 

Verizon & IndyCar: Racing Into the Future Together

Turn back the calendar a few months and I thought, fab, the IndyCar Series nabs a title sponsor with more than 103 million retail connections, 1,700 retail locations, and $81 billion dollars in revenue--this is promising for raising the profile of the sport.    

But after having recently participated in a Verizon Tech Tour, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it turns out the relationship is about much more than just sponsorship. This is a real partnership. A partnership aimed at speeding both organizations into a high-technology future.

For IndyCar
They get a crack at innovative Verizon LTE Multicast. Introduced at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, over a commercial 4G LTE network, it delivers rich, multi-faceted media content to multiple devices at once rather than sending it in a separate stream to each user.

Right. What does that mean? With a series of cameras deployed trackside to capture the cars as they travel around the circuit, combined with in-car cameras that get unparalleled views of what the drivers see, the content delivered over LTE Multicast gives IndyCar teams, using a special app, pictures and angles in real time they may have never seen before. 

Unprecedented, split-second decision-making capabilities. That's cool.

The ultimate goal and what's in it for you: The idea is to roll this technology into a solution for the ultimate fan experience. Large audiences in specific locations--like race tracks--would have access to the same live video and data on their personal devices that teams now have in the pits. Think of it as an evolution of the current IndyCar14 app with multiple channels of live video, and more, added. Much like the same technological amenities you might enjoy on multiple devices in your living room brought right to your seat at the race track. Fastastic.

For Verizon
They get to use IndyCar as a springboard to what clearly appears to me to be a transition from solely a mobile provider to a full-fledged tech company.

A few examples of Verizon advancements already available:

Connected Car (Delphi Connect with 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot)

• Transforms your car into a wi-fi hotspot
• Access vehicle diagnostics, including code meanings
• Use your mobile phone as a key fob
• Get speed alerts
• Locate your vehicle

Connected Home (Nest Home Thermostat, Belkin WeMo Insight Switch, and more) 

• Control the temperature in your home remotely
• Turn home electronics on or off from your smartphone
  or tablet
• Control lights remotely
• Video monitoring

Connected Home illustrated in the Verizon IndyCar Fan Village 

Isis Mobile Wallet

• A free app that allows you to use your smartphone to pay for purchases. You can add payment cards and have it hold your offers and participating store loyalty programs, so they’re always with you.

So there you have it. A peek behind the barriers at how Verizon and IndyCar are shaping their futures together. Things look bright.

--Chris

Verizon kiosk, located in the IndyCar Fan Village, engages racing enthusiasts and
showcases the entire Indycar/Verizon technological partnership

Everyone Needs a Rookie to Root For II

Continuation of our wildly popular [blatant exaggeration] inaugural rookie roundup from 2013.

This year sees a healthy class of seven newbies who have qualified to contest the world's greatest race. From a NASCAR champion, to a Russian rock guitarist and speedy upstart who grew up across the street from the Andrettis, there's a little something for everyone.  

As we rev up for the 98th running of "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing," take a moment to meet this year's crop of fast learners—because everyone needs a rookie to root for. Who's your favorite?

--Chris

Mikhail Aleshin
SMP Racing Schmidt Peterson Motorsports #7
Age: 27
Hometown: Moscow, Russia
Nicknames: "The Russian" "Mike Allen" 

The scoop: The first Russian driver ever to compete in the Verizon IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis 500. A former World Series by Renault champion, in Europe, he had never been to the United States prior to joining IndyCar. He's shown flashes of speed, thus far, but the jury's still out. Guitarist in a Russian rock band. \m/

Kurt Busch
Suretone Andretti Autosport #26 
Age: 35
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Nicknames: "KuBu" "Outlaw" "Double Outlaw"

The scoop: Like a box of chocolates! A NASCAR champion, he currently drives for Tony Stewart's team, in the stock car series. Focus of much attention, this May, he's the first to attempt "The Double" (Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in the same day) in, like, a while. Unforgettably hateful rip on poor TV commentator, Dr. Jerry Punch, in the day, but he's been well behaved, this month.

James Davison
Always Evolving Racing KV Racing Technology #33 
Age: 27
Hometown: Melbourne, Australia
Nickname: "Big Jimmy" [???]

The scoop: A late add to give KVRT a 4-car Indy 500 lineup, Davison's been around: A couple of Indy Lights wins, at least one IndyCar start for Coyne at Mid-Ohio, Rolex Series, Carrera Porsche Cup, and so on. Racing is in Davison's genes—his grandfather Lex Davison won the Australian Grand Prix four times, while his father Jon raced Formula 5000. Can't speak to current status, but he once dated Tony George's daughter, Lauren.

Jack Hawksworth
Energee Bryan Herta Autosport/BBM with Curb Agajanian #98 
Age: 23
Hometown: Bradford, England
Nicknames: "The Hawk" "sHAWK and Awe" "J-Hawk" 

The scoop: Coming off an admirable season of Indy Lights, he was the surprise pick of Bryan Herta for a full season of IndyCar competition. So far, so fast. The kid appears to be good. Here's one: He was so convinced he wouldn't have a race ride for 2014, he nearly tapped out and got his personal trainer's license. Rich, old-world accent...

Carlos Huertas
Cafe de Colombia Dale Coyne Racing #18
Age: 22
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Nickname: "[your favorite here]" 

The scoop: Tested by Panther Racing, then picked up by Dale Coyne, when Panther folded, he's one of four Colombians in this year's '500' field. Four IndyCar starts to his name, a lone top 10 is the highlight. Once drove for a team owned by Formula 1 superstar Kimi Raikkonen. Such a media darling, reckon I've never heard him speak.  

Sage Karam
Brantley Gilbert/Comfort Revolution Dreyer & Reinbold-Kingdom Racing #22  
Age: 19
Hometown: Nazareth, PA, USA
Nicknames: "SK$" "Kid Karam"

The scoop: High school senior—that's right—Karam is hot off a 2013 Indy Lights championship. His notable performances for Chip Ganassi's sports car program have him in a development deal with the owner, but with four cars already in the Ganassi IndyCar stable, Karam's been farmed-out to Dreyer and Reinbold for the '500.' Sage dates former Indy car driver Gil de Ferran's daughter, Anna. 

Martin Plowman
ABC Supply A.J. Foyt Racing #41
Age: 26
Hometown: Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England [fancy]
Nickname: "Plowey" 

The scoop: The wee Brit stepped out of the sports car shadows to contest the Indy Double of the Grand Prix of Indianapolis and Indy 500 for the legendary SuperTex. He's had a total of four IndyCar starts, with unremarkable results, but has claimed a 24 Hours of Le Mans class win and FIA World Endurance sports car championship. By all reports, a likable chap. Married to a former Miss Indiana and likes to be called, "Marty." [part of that statement is true]

photos ℅ IndyCar.com

Is an IndyCar driver coming to your town?

In my case, YES. Tomorrow, Tuesday May 20th, Pippa Mann will pay me a personal (well, not actually) visit in the great city of Cincinnati, Ohio.

The other Indy 500 drivers will also fan out over North America to spread the good gospel of the world's greatest race and IndyCar.

Check out the graphic, below, to see if one will be near you.

—Chris

Market	2014 Driver
Birmingham	Charlie Kimball
Bristol, CT	Helio Castroneves
Charlotte	Juan Pablo Montoya
Chicago	Scott Dixon
Cincinnati	Pippa Mann
Columbus, OH	Takuma Sato
Dallas	Tony Kanaan
Dayton, OH	Alex Tagliani
Denver	Justin Wilson, JR Hildebrand
Detroit	Will Power, Ryan Briscoe, Buddy Lazier
Houston	Ryan Hunter-Reay
Louisville	Jack Hawksworth, Plowman, Sage Karam, Carlos Huertas, James Davison, Mikhail Aleshin
Miami	Carlos Munoz, Sebastian Saavedra, Oriol Servia
Milwaukee	Ed Carpenter, James Hinchcliffe
Nashville	Josef Newgarden
New Orleans	Graham Rahal
New York	Kurt Busch, Marco Andretti
Tampa	Sebastien Bourdais
Toronto	Jacques Villeneuve, Simon Pagenaud

Historically high stakes on Indy 500 qualifying

There's a lot more than bragging rights and a cozy starting position on the line for Indy 500 qualifying, this weekend.

It's about points. Lots and lots of Verizon IndyCar Series Championship points.

Take a look, and don't miss a minute of the action.

—Chris 

℅ IndyCar.com

Have a better IMS experience and share it easier

I hear that loud and clear. You?

Recently, IndyCar Series title sponsor, Verizon Wireless, offered a special sneak preview, to tech and track bloggers, of the myriad upgrades they've made at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, to enhance the fan experience.

Following is a summary of highlights, along with a handy glossary of terms. 

—Chris  

[release]

Revving Up the Wireless Experience

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Verizon is enhancing the fan experience through the power of our 4G LTE network by adding significant upgrades to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the month of May.

IndyCar and Verizon have teamed up to deliver innovation and performance for the Grand Prix of Indianapolis and Indy 500 and throughout the series, ensuring a winning experience for fans at the races and across the country.

What We’ve Done

•  Installation of in-building DAS (Distributed Antenna System) technology with a base station and more than two hundred small antennas placed throughout the Speedway for improved coverage.
• A 250 percent increase in 4G LTE capacity.
• Two COLTS (Cell on Light Truck) stationed in the area surrounding the Speedway for extra capacity.
• Deploying AWS (Advanced Wireless Services) to enhance the customer experience on AWS-enabled devices.

What it means for customers and visitors to the Speedway:

Verizon is delivering a superior customer experience on the nation’s largest, most reliable wireless network to fans, drivers and officials at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

• Our teams have been working to ensure customers can use their smartphones, tablets and other wireless devices not only to send pictures and texts, and post on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms, but also search for and watch news on their favorite drivers, and access the INDYCAR 14 app — including listening to race radio while sitting in the top row of the bleachers or on the crowded infield — or IndyCar website. Our focus on network prep and coordination with public safety means emergency response teams on site will have the vital connections needed to ensure safety and quick response to the thousands of fans attending the races and other events at the Speedway. 

Indiana Network Facts

• Verizon is the first wireless carrier to complete building its 4G LTE network in Indiana, which started at Purdue University in the fall of 2010.

• In 2013 alone, Verizon invested $130 million in the Indiana network.

• Verizon is now focused on adding Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) for additional capacity and greater speeds.

• Verizon has been recognized this year as best overall wireless carrier in Indiana and the nation by independent testers RootMetrics and J.D. Power and Associates.

Commonly-used network terms

4G LTE stands for “Fourth Generation Long Term Evolution.” Years ago, this term introduced Americans to the high-speed wireless service that has revolutionized mobile phones by enabling super-fast connections that help deliver high-speed data services such as video on demand and instant turn-by-turn directions.

Spectrum: Radio frequencies travel over the air via spectrum, providing invisible pathways for wireless signals – everything from commercial radio programs and cellphone calls to data transmissions and the signal that allows you to change the channels on your TV with your remote control from your couch.

AWS (or AWS-1) means “Advanced Wireless Services” and is the name of one of the wireless telecommunications spectrum bands used by Verizon Wireless to deliver mobile data services, video and messaging over the air. Verizon Wireless uses AWS spectrum to supplement its existing 4G LTE service, which also uses the 700 MHz spectrum band originally deployed in 2010 when the company first introduced one of the world’s first commercial LTE networks – the largest in the U.S. 

Carrier aggregation allows a wireless provider to operate two spectrum bands as one so that smartphones, tablets and other devices can take advantage of airwaves on either band at the same time. By combining the spectrum of Verizon Wireless’ 700 MHz and AWS bands as well as any future spectrum as one asset, carrier aggregation increases the network’s ability to provide consistent performance along with increased capacity.

LTE Advanced is a combination of more than 15 network enhancements and performance features that are designed to create greater performance and capacity on 4G LTE networks in the future. Two of the more important features are carrier aggregation and heterogeneous networks. Engineers at Verizon Wireless today are beginning the work of deploying these capabilities around the U.S.

Heterogenuous network describes the complex interoperation among macrocell, small cell, and in some cases WiFi network elements used together to provide a mosaic of coverage, with handoff capability between the different network elements.

DAS (Distributed Antenna Systems, sometimes pronounced “dass” as in “pass”) are networks of cables and antennas that can be installed in high-traffic areas – stadiums, convention or shopping centers, office buildings, train stations, airline terminals, and even dense, outdoor urban areas such as midtown Manhattan – to create additional capacity when many users are accessing the wireless network at peak times. Verizon Wireless installs many DAS systems to provide additional capacity where it is needed, including one for IndyCar fans at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Small cells: Small cells are like mini cell towers, smaller scale units generally deployed on lamp posts, utility poles and building walls to relay cell phone signals through fiber optic cables. Small cells are used primarily to enhance localized capacity and coverage where there is concentrated traffic, such as in a business district, shopping mall or a college campus.