Mobile internet outages have unexpectedly transformed event Wi-Fi from an "option" into basic infrastructure. According to Hot-WiFi estimates, in 2026, businesses could earn an additional 1 billion rubles from organizing temporary networks, and the total market volume will grow to 4.5 billion rubles – a 21% increase from the previous year.
Conference, festival, and concert organizers are increasingly playing it safe: instead of relying on mobile communication, they are investing in separate Wi-Fi infrastructure. The reason is simple – if guests can't open their tickets, speakers can't load presentations, and journalists can't send their material, the entire event suffers.
The numbers confirm this. In 2025, network load in crowded places increased by 27%, average traffic per user by 18%, and the share of events with a backup communication channel increased by 43%.
The main driver is the unstable operation of mobile internet in several regions. Restrictions have been recorded since 2025 and affect different parts of the country. As a result, Wi-Fi is increasingly becoming not an addition, but an insurance against failures.
Demand for networks is growing especially fast where there is a high digital load: forums with online broadcasts, registration areas, interactive stands, festivals with user-generated content, and events where QR codes and online payments are actively used.
Telecom operators are observing the same trend. Rostelecom notes an increase in demand for "turnkey" Wi-Fi infrastructure – from equipment to user authorization. According to the company's estimates, the growth rates of the market in terms of revenue and the number of access points have more than doubled compared to the previous period.
ER-Telecom Holding reports exponential growth: over the year, their networks provided more than 355 million connections, and the number of unique monthly users increased fourfold. The number of requests for event Wi-Fi grew by approximately 33%.
Requirements for communication quality are also changing. While organizers previously limited themselves to 100–200 Mbps channels, they are now increasingly requesting several gigabits – the network must withstand video streams, payments, registration, and thousands of connections simultaneously.
Megafon notes that demand is also shifting towards smaller events – now even local events increasingly require a separate network.
Experts state directly: Wi-Fi has become as essential a part of an event as lighting, sound, or coffee during breaks.
In fact, mobile communication disruptions have created a new market – with stable demand for alternative channels. And, judging by the dynamics, this trend is only gaining momentum.