Mobile data from Super Bowl stadium breaks records

The Super Bowl produced skyrocketing wireless voice and data usage by fans inside the MetLife Stadium, higher than any other one-day sporting event, according to AT&T and Verizon Wireless.

AT&T reported that total data use over its cellular network at the stadium in East Rutherford (NJ) reached 624 GB, equal to 1.8 million social media posts with photos. The most data uploaded and downloaded, 119 GB, occurred before the 6:30 p.m. kickoff, between 5 and 6 p.m., as fans sent and received photos and videos. AT&T customers also made 55,000 calls, according to John Donovan, senior executive vice president of AT&T technology and network operations. AT&T's 624 GB was well over the total usage at the previous Super Bowl in New Orleans of 388 GB. Verizon said its data surged by 800% in the game during the busiest hour when compared to the previous Super Bowl. Verizon said customer data usage during the half-time show with Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers exceeded any previous Super Bowl. Verizon said it had a total of 1.9 TB used by Verizon customers at the Super Bowl.