Qatar Shone During AFC Asian Cup 2023 on the Pitch and in Mobile 5G Performance

Following the FIFA World Cup® 2022, the first in the Middle East and the pioneering global football competition to be supported by 5G networks, Qatar welcomed an estimated 1.5 million fans for the 18th edition of the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) Asian Cup from 12 January to 10 February 2024. This article examines the performance of 5G networks in selected stadiums during the event and compares it to the 2022 FIFA World Cup and other major international sporting events in 2023 and 2024. 

Key takeaways

• Qatar tops Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index®. Qatar moved into the top spot of the Speedtest Index in February 2024, surpassing the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This result showcases operators’ commitment to delivering the best network performance for visitors and residents.
• Qatari stadiums delivered world-class 5G network performance. All six stadiums we tracked during the competition had a median download speed of at least 600 Mbps. The Ahmed bin Ali Stadium took a top spot with a speed of 964.33 Mbps, ranking favorably in the leaderboard of global sporting events, second only to the Super Bowl® in the U.S.
• Superior network capabilities significantly enhanced web browsing and real-time online services. The high download speeds combined with ultra-low latency, under 34 ms across the stadiums, suggest that fans experienced minimal lag when streaming, video calling, or gaming online. The web browsing experience over 5G was excellent, evidenced by the low webpage load times ranging from 1.0 to 1.4 seconds.

Qatar was well-prepared for the AFC Asian Cup, drawing from its experience as the host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup 

Operators should prepare in advance and invest heavily in upgrading infrastructure in preparation for large sporting events. 5G is helping to transform the live event experience, creating a more engaging and interactive experience. Spectators and fans expect to share their experiences with friends and family through social media and stream the actions while watching live action from the pitch and replays from multiple angles and enjoy augmented reality games and services.

The AFC Asian Cup 2023 concluded in February 2024 with the host nation, Qatar, beating Jordan 3-1. Matches were played in nine stadiums across five cities as part of the international football tournament that involved 24 national teams.

It follows the successful organization of the World Cup 2022 in the country that saw 5G networks support 2.45 million cumulative stadium spectators and set a high standard, surpassing other major events like the French Open and Wimbledon in terms of 5G download speeds. The two local operators, Vodafone and Ooredoo, invested heavily in 5G infrastructure in preparation for this regional sporting event. 

The analysis covers eight stadiums across five cities. We used Speedtest Intelligence® to examine download and upload speeds and multi-server latencies for 5G within 200m of the stadiums’ center throughout the tournament for both operators combined. We also used Consumer QoE™ data with the same criteria to determine web page load time, reflecting the quality of supporters’ experiences, whether posting a picture or a message on Facebook or checking their live scores.

Qatar outdid itself with ever better mobile 5G performance during AFC Asian Cup 2023

We used Speedtest Intelligence data to observe performance in the lead-up to and during the AFC Asian Cup. From September 2023 to February 2024, Qatar witnessed significant advancements in 5G network speed.  The median 5G download speed rose from 441.46 Mbps to 607.0 Mbps, and the upload speed increased from 24.79 Mbps to 36.66 Mbps. 

Qatar welcomed over 1 million visitors during the group stage, beating the previous AFC record achieved 20 years ago during the 2004 tournament in China. During that period, Ooredoo reported 190 TB of data volume while 5G usage share reached 50.1%. The tournament concluded with an estimated 1.5 million fans attending 51 games. The final match attracted over 86,000 fans at Lusail Stadium, where Ooredoo reported total data traffic of 35TB and delivered an average download speed of 244 Mbps and an upload speed of 50 Mbps.

These improvements contributed to elevating Qatar’s ranking to the number one position on the Speedtest Global Index® in February 2024, surpassing the United Arab Emirates, with a median download speed of 286.42 Mbps across all technologies. Qatar maintained its top spot in March 2024, following the Asian Cup, with a median download speed of 313.3 Mbps. To increase capacity and improve speed, operators have been deploying additional 5G sites and activating new 5G carriers, delivering exceptional network performance for their customers.

Qatari stadiums delivered world-class 5G network performance during the Asian Cup

Speedtest Intelligence data show that all six surveyed stadiums recorded a median 5G download speed of over 600 Mbps and a median upload speed of over 90 Mbps.  We identified two distinct groups based on their 5G performance:

• The first group is where fans experienced the fastest speeds. It is led by Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, with a median download speed on 5G of 964.33 Mbps, followed by  Al-Janoub Stadium and Khalifa International Stadium, with median download speeds of 899.27 Mbps and 888.36 Mbps, respectively. 
• The second group of stadiums had weaker performance overall but still commanded very high speeds, ranging from 602.20 Mbps for Education City Stadium to 730.73 Mbps for Al Bayt Stadium.

The leading stadiums in terms of median download speed also excelled in upload, with speeds exceeding 108 Mbps. Ahmed bin Ali Stadium and Al-Janoub Stadium had upload speeds of 110.46 Mbps and 110.87 Mbps, respectively. Education City Stadium was at the bottom of the list but still offered excellent download and upload speeds.

There has been a marked improvement in 5G network performance around the stadiums when comparing the 2023 AFC Cup to the FIFA World Cup in 2022. Al Janub Stadium, previously the top performer, saw an 18.7% increase in download speed to 757.77 Mbps. However, Ahmed bin Ali Stadium surpassed it with a 54.5% increase, reaching 964.33 Mbps in 2024. Khalifa International Stadium saw the most significant improvement since World Cup 2022, an increase in download speed to 888.36 Mbps. Al Bayt Stadium’s median download speed also climbed to 730.73 Mbps.

Significant 5G performance improvements during the AFC Asian Cup propelled the six Qatari stadiums to rank favorably against other major sporting venues in the region and beyond, with the six surveyed stadiums used in AFC Cup 2023 just behind Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas where the Super Bowl took place in 2024.

Latency is crucial for streaming, video calling, and online gaming and measures real-time online interactions. AFC stadiums had a tight range of multi-server latencies for 5G, except for Khalifa International Stadium. The latter had a lower latency at 20.3 ms, offering less lag and a better streaming experience than Al Bayt Stadium, which had a much higher latency at 33.8 ms. Fans in the other stadium experienced decent response times, ranging from 30.5 ms in Lusail Stadium to 32.7 ms in Education City Stadium.

Web browsing performance across stadiums was excellent during the competition

We used Consumer QoE data to explore web page load time over 5G. These measurements reflect consumers’ real-world experiences of using the internet, like accessing social media sites and searching for information online. Accessing these services with little or no delay means less customer frustration and increased satisfaction. 

For this analysis, we included Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa and Jassim bin Hamad Stadiums due to their larger data samples compared to Education City Stadium. The data shows that users experienced very quick webpage load times over 5G in all surveyed stadiums, with median load times ranging from 1.4 seconds to as low as 1.1 seconds. Fans in Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa and Al-Janoub Stadiums enjoyed marginally faster webpage load times than those in other venues.

The introduction of 5G has undoubtedly opened up new possibilities for enhancing the stadium experience for fans and spectators. Thanks to its high speed and low latency, 5G can enable more immersive and personalized experiences beyond traditional live viewing. Insights from the latest AFC Cup demonstrate how Qatar elevated its stadium mobile infrastructure to a world-class level, surpassing its notable efforts during the FIFA World Cup 2022.  This achievement also reflects the significant investments made by network operators to enhance 5G performance and ensure a great internet experience for fans and spectators alike.

To find out how Ookla’s crowdsourced data and analytical tools can help you track network performance during major sporting events, contact us.