Technology & IT | Saturday 22 July, 2017 5:19 am |

Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) has been unveiled as the connectivity partner for Stamford
Bridge – Chelsea Football Club’s home stadium in Fulham, London. Free Wi-Fi coverage will
be provided via the Small Cell as a Service connected venue business model whereby
Ericsson designs, builds and operates the network on the customer’s behalf. As a result,
Chelsea FC will be able to provide fans throughout the stadium with a richer experience that
enables them to interact digitally with each other, the club, friends and family.
In winning their fifth Premier League title in 2016/2017, Chelsea FC sold out every home
match day at Stamford Bridge. Many fans used their smartphones to share photos and
videos via social media, often stretching cellular networks to the limit. To ensure visitors can
enjoy a seamless digital experience, Ericsson will design, build and operate a carrier-grade
Wi-Fi access network and then manage it on Chelsea FC’s behalf.
Chris Townsend, Chelsea FC commercial director, says: “We look forward to a rich
partnership with Ericsson which will directly assist the thousands of fans who come regularly
to Stamford Bridge. Ericsson leads the way in providing innovative digital solutions and we
welcome them to the Chelsea family.”
Arun Bansal, Senior Vice President, Europe & Latin America, Ericsson, says: “Our research
indicates that people want to use their digital devices wherever they go – and the urge to
connect is even greater at a Chelsea FC home game. Through this partnership, we will
ensure the connectivity at Stamford Bridge matches the quality of the football and look
forward to exploring further options that will enable Chelsea FC to take the digital experience
to the next level.”
Small Cell as a Service supports service providers’ cellular go-to-market models, enables
businesses to monetize Wi-Fi, provides a business case for network build-out and improves
end-user experience. In 2015, Legia Warsaw became the first football club in Europe to sign

a Small Cell as a Service contract with Ericsson. In 2016, Ericsson became the connectivity
partner for the Ricoh Arena stadium in Coventry, England, home to Aviva Premiership rugby
team Wasps and Wasps Netball.
Through four weeks of football mania in Brazil in 2014, the Nordic World Ski Championships
in Sweden in 2015, the 2016 European football tournament in France, and the 2016 summer
sports event in Rio, Ericsson ensured the networks kept pace with the fans. Click here to
read how we connect the most popular venues around the world.