Verizon Adds Cell Sites Around MN State Fair For Attendees

FALCON HEIGHTS (WCCO) – Attendance is up at the Minnesota State Fair and so is mobile data usage.

Karen Smith, spokeswoman for Verizon Wireless says the increase in usage can be linked to the fact that we are sharing everything. She feels that people are using their phones more and more to not only navigate the fair, but also to share their fair experience.

Smith says people are taking photos and putting them on social media sites.

While Smith couldn't go into specific details about what we are sharing, but did say data usage on their network went up 156 percent.

To respond to the increased demand for data, Verizon added cell sites around the fair grounds.

They are small sites that are data only and Smith says that has really helped them meet the needs of their customers.

This is not the first time Verizon has increased capacity to accommodate an influx of mobile users in one place.

Verizon added cell sites around Target Field for the All Star Game, and they increased capacity at TCF Bank Stadium for the upcoming Minnesota Vikings season.