How Hungarians use their mobile phones at Lake Balaton in summer

Peak season boosted by Balaton Crossing

Just as the M7 motorway and catering facilities at Lake Balaton get busier in the summer, the mobile network also faces a heavy load during this period. August is the month when mobile data traffic peaks with the highest levels usually recorded in Siófok. During the 42nd Lidl Balaton Crossing on 21 July, the number of voice calls increased compared to a similar summer day. According to a recent Yettel analysis of mobile traffic at Lake Balaton, people spent between four and nine times as much time on the phone on that day as on an average winter day.

More voice calls and fewer SMS messages during the Balaton Crossing

As expected, mobile phone use increases in the summer around Lake Balaton. Siófok is the champion of mobile traffic, but a mass event can also produce outstanding results in other locations, such as Révfülöp and Balatonboglár during one of the biggest sporting events, the Balaton Crossing. According to Yettel’s analysis, users talked over 50% more during last year’s competition than on the weekend before the event. This meant 58% more minutes at the start in Révfülöp and 62% more minutes at the finish in Balatonboglár.

At the same time, there was little change in mobile data traffic and fewer SMS messages were sent – presumably because competitors and their supporters were more likely to be talking on the phone. The seasonality is even more striking when compared to an average winter day. Calls made at the start and finish on the day of last year’s event (23 July 2023) were 4 to 9 times longer than on an average Sunday in January (14 January 2024).

Full picture: text-heavy June, high-voice July and data-rich August

Looking at mobile data usage in the 16 largest towns and villages around Lake Balaton[1], it appears that mobile users consumed 5 million gigabytes of data throughout the season, with a peak of almost 2 million GB in August. July was the record month for call minutes, while the highest number of SMS messages was sent in June, over 20% more than in August.

Interestingly, among the municipalities surveyed, the lowest traffic for all three indicators was recorded in Révfülöp, which is also the starting point of the Balaton Crossing, while the highest traffic was recorded in Siófok. In the months under review, the latter town accounted for more than a fifth of the total voice traffic (22-24%), SMS traffic (20-26%) and data traffic (29-35%) of the 16 settlements. Yettel customers have access to superfast 5G services in several resorts around Lake Balaton on the operator’s continuously expanding 5G network.

Excellent mobile network quality during the Balaton Crossing

On 21 July, the LIDL Balaton Crossing took place for the 42nd time. Throughout the year, Yettel develops its network around Lake Balaton, and during the competition it ensured that the mobile network was ready for the challenge, so that everyone could reach their loved ones as soon as they finished the distance. The operator also provided other convenience services at the Balaton Crossing: it installed 5G MobilPoints at both Révfülöp and Balatonboglár, where competitors could call their friends and family from the phones provided before the start and after the finish.

Beyond mobile: SUP-port and AI at Lake Balaton

As a key partner of the event, Yettel not only provided 5G, network and mobile phones, but also helped competitors inflate their SUPs in Révfülöp so they could focus on finishing the distance. Its SUP-port stand had a repair kit for unexpected situations and sunshades for those waiting in line. In Balatonboglár, the “Recharge” chill zone offered a pleasant, shaded environment, mobile charging facilities and WiFi for supporters and those registered for the swim or SUP event. The event also featured exciting activities and giveaways. The Yettel AI photo tent welcomed competitors and supporters to take unique photos using artificial intelligence.

[1] The following settlements were included in the analysis: Balatonalmádi, Balatonboglár, Balatonfenyves, Balatonföldvár, Balatonfűzfő, Balatonfüred, Balatonlelle, Balatonszemes, Csopak, Fonyód, Keszthely, Révfülöp, Siófok, Tihany, Zamárdi, Zánka