Brisbane Powerhouse: powering unforgettable cultural experiences with technology

Optus, in partnership with Brisbane Powerhouse and Brisbane City Council, helped transform the Night Feast event through advanced connectivity and smart venue technology. Leveraging state-of-the-art 5G connectivity and smart solutions, the collaboration is turning Brisbane Powerhouse into an “innovation lab,” delivering seamless and immersive cultural experiences.

From 2021, Optus began providing Brisbane Powerhouse with uninterrupted 5G connectivity during popular events like Night Feast, when the event’s food and beverage (F&B) providers rely on real-time online ordering systems to manage high volumes during peak times.

The next question was: how else could technology be leveraged to build a bridge between culture and connectivity, enhancing the overall experience for all visitors and stakeholders?

The objective was to transform the Brisbane Powerhouse into a truly connected cultural and community hub – to deliver a joyful and fun experience for visitors, businesses, chefs, local producers and all the back-of-house teams.

Key goals included:

• Further enhancing F&B service efficiency and differentiating stakeholder experiences with private, stable, reliable Wi-Fi.
• Implementing smart sensors and cameras to optimise visitor experiences and ensure safety and compliance.
• Creating a design that would enable them to deploy, redeploy and extend the number and type of devices for greater flexibility.

The solution was supported by Cisco’s Country Digitisation Acceleration (CDA) Program and included a tailored suite of technologies (powered by the Optus 5G tower on the roof of the Brisbane Powerhouse):

• State-of-the-art 5G technology, leveraging Cisco’s Meraki suite.
• Private Wi-Fi for vendors and stakeholders: Dedicated SSIDs ensured uninterrupted connectivity for specific user groups, such as vendors, exhibitors and VIPs.
• Solution management: Optus targeted and managed the network across the site and solutions throughout the event period.
• Cameras: Deployed to monitor visitor counting and dwell time/heat mapping for traffic flow optimisation.
• Other smart sensors: Measured ambient noise, air quality and fridge temperatures, optimising event safety and comfort, and minimising any impacts on the surrounding local community.
• Online ordering integration: Supported the critical Bopple app for real-time food and beverage orders across multiple outlets. These orders are received and printed by each vendor via the dedicated Wi-Fi network using tablets/phones and Square EFT terminals. These are only connected via Wi-Fi, so a rock-solid connection is critical to the smooth operation of each of the F&B vendors.

Night Feast's fifth edition was its biggest yet, attracting more than 160,000 visitors across four weeks and helping lift total attendance to more than half a million people since the festival first began. Behind the scenes, Optus delivered the connectivity that kept every part of the event running smoothly, supporting vendors, artists, production crews and security teams across the precinct.

During peak periods, the network handled more than 2 million MB of downloads and almost 250,000 MB of uploads, allowing attendees to share more than 87,000 photos and videos in real time. More than 15,000 cashless transactions were processed seamlessly, creating a frictionless experience for visitors while providing Brisbane Powerhouse with valuable insights to help shape future events.

This foundation of connectivity is helping Brisbane Powerhouse continue to evolve as a leading destination for arts, culture and community experiences.

Together, Optus and Brisbane Powerhouse are exploring new ways technology can enrich arts and cultural events, strengthen community connections and unlock new experiences for visitors.

As Brisbane looks ahead to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Brisbane Powerhouse is continuing to invest in the digital foundations that will help it engage audiences, support artists and deliver world-class experiences. With Optus providing the connectivity to bring ideas to life, the partnership is helping ensure the venue remains ready for every next opportunity.