UPDATE: Top 4 carriers combine for 15.9 TB of cellular data use at Super Bowl 50

UPDATE, 2/8/16, 1:50 p.m. — We now have data totals in from all four of the major U.S. cellular carriers, and at Sunday’s Super Bowl 50, fans combined to use 15.9 terabytes of data on the networks in and directly around Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

Leading the way in usage was Verizon Wireless with a claim of 7 TB used by its customers; AT&T was next with 5.2 TB of claimed usage, followed by T-Mobile with a report of 2.1 TB, and Sprint with 1.6 TB. All the carriers’ numbers are well above figures from last year’s Super Bowl, where by our reporting Sprint, AT&T and Verizon had a combined 6.56 TB of cellular data consumed during the big game. (We did not have any T-Mobile reports from last year.)

For all the carriers, the data apparently includes both traffic on the in-stadium distributed antenna system (DAS) network was well as any macro deployments outside the stadium in parking lot areas. The final total was well over double the 6.56 TB of cellular traffic seen at last year’s big game in Glendale, Ariz. We are still waiting for Wi-Fi numbers from the Levi’s Stadium networking crew but it’s a good bet the 6.23 TB number from last year’s game will be eclipsed and we will have a new single-game Wi-Fi record as well so stay tuned.

Though we did hear and see some scattered reports of network connectivity issues during the Denver Broncos’ 24-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers it appears the upgrade of the DAS Group Professionals DAS install at Levi’s Stadium with its gear mainly provided by JMA Wireless stood up to the biggest-ever test of traffic. Congrats to all involved.

Thanks also to the Verizon and AT&T crews who supplied us with tweet reports and emails Sunday night, it made for some entertaining in-game stats. Some tweets embedded below.

Check that it's 41,000 mms messages already sent or received inside @LevisStadium at #SB50. Wonder how many saying "I'm here!"

— paulkaps (@paulkaps) February 7, 2016

First stat from #AT&T for #SB50 — AT&T customers used 2.1 TB of data in tailgate areas pregame

— paulkaps (@paulkaps) February 7, 2016

Verizon reporting that its 4G LTE network is hitting 19.75 mbps down 17 mbps up at #SB50 inside @LevisStadium

— paulkaps (@paulkaps) February 8, 2016

Another #AT&T stat: AT&T customers in stadium at #SB50 used 201 GB during kickoff… 600 percent more than last year

— paulkaps (@paulkaps) February 8, 2016

This is #Instagram posts on #verizon network at #SB50 https://t.co/p7CD64MCiu

— paulkaps (@paulkaps) February 8, 2016

More from AT&T:its customers used 708 GB of cellular data during first half at #SB50

— paulkaps (@paulkaps) February 8, 2016

@paulkaps @harrymccracken just over 5,300 transactions in the apple app store since kickoff since you were asking #verizon

— Phil Burrows (@philburr214) February 8, 2016

Thanks! https://t.co/xv0MBgdl0I

— paulkaps (@paulkaps) February 8, 2016