Kodaline perform on Spike Island

Fort Mitchell on Cork's Spike Island, Ireland's answer to Alcatraz, was transformed into the world's newest concert venue today. Chart topping band Kodaline put the Vodafone 4G network to work as they performed an intimate gig for 100 fans who were joined by over a quarter of a million of Kodaline's followers via Twitter. The band's global fans were able to share the unforgettable #4GLive streamed front row experience through the band's Twitter page.

Kodaline fanatics far and wide watched their favourite band perform songs from their new album Coming Up For Air. The #4GLive stream was picture perfect using the Vodafone Smart ultra 6's 13-megapixel camera. Launched here just last month, the device is Vodafone's most popular branded device to date, and has sold out already in many shops and online.

The unique gig tested Vodafone's superfast 4G network which has been created as part of the company's €550m investment to bring a better voice and data experience to customers across Ireland. The network upgrade programme is due for completion in late autumn with over 90% of the population already covered. 4G customers on average experience up to ten times faster data speeds than standard 3G, and now with 4G+, speeds are getting even faster.

Faster data speeds mean that Kodaline fans, along with other music lovers, can now watch HD quality video and stream their music seamlessly over the Vodafone network. Customers in Ireland are already enjoying these benefits. As a result, data traffic across the Vodafone 4G network has surged with customers now using over 450 terabytes of data every month. To put this in context this is equivalent to:

• Listening to Kodaline's hit single "All I Want" over 5 million times daily
• Watching their video "High Hopes" 14 and a half millions times on YouTube in a week
• Listening to the band's latest album, Coming Up For Air, over 13 million times in just one month

Commenting on the Kodaline #4GLive streamed gig, Marcel De Groot, Consumer Director, Vodafone Ireland said, "Spike Island was the perfect location to showcase Vodafone's superior 4G network. We are committed to delivering the best network service to all our customers and enabling them to access the ever-growing number of digital services being developed for education, entertainment and business."

Along with providing the widest 4G coverage across Ireland, Vodafone is also the first operator to deliver Ireland's 4G+ technology providing speeds up to three times faster than standard 4G. 4G+ is currently available in the cities of Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford."

For full details of 4G please see www.vodafone.ie/network/4g.

-ENDS-

Further information: 

Clodagh O'Hagan, Vodafone Ireland, 087 9084055 
Ger McCarthy / Orla Molloy Weber Shandwick, 01 679 8600 / 086 233 3590 / 087 770 5108

Notes to Editor:

• 4G is up to ten times faster than standard 3G, speeds of up to 75Mbps.
• 4G+ is up to three times faster than standard 4G, speeds of up to 225Mbps
• Based on Vodafone national data traffic for June 2015; an average song being 3MB; an album containing 12 songs; a video being 7.5MB
• Vodafone Smart Ultra 6 is the highest performing handset in its popular Smart series, offering high end specifications and value for money to customers wanting a device to explore demanding 4G applications. Priced from €169.99 on pay as you go, the device is available both in-store and online at Vodafone.ie

About Vodafone:

Vodafone is one of the world's largest telecommunications companies and provides a range of services including voice, messaging, data and fixed communications. Vodafone has mobile operations in 26 countries, partners with mobile networks in 55 more, and fixed broadband operations in 17 markets. As of 31 March 2015, Vodafone had 446 million mobile customers and 12 million fixed broadband customers. For more information, please visit: www.vodafone.ie