Multi-Gigabit, Fully Redundant Network Architecture
Providing Network Infrastructure for High-Density Exhibitions
In the fast-paced world of major exhibitions, connectivity is no longer a luxury - it is the central nervous system of a modern stand. We were tasked on a short lead time with designing and deploying a reliable, high-performance network infrastructure across a large exhibition stand for a global tech company.
The network had to support hundreds of simultaneous users with diverse needs: from general wireless access for guests and staff to mission-critical, high-speed data transfers for AV teams and vendors running specialised applications. The core requirements were clear: absolute reliability with zero downtime, immense bandwidth capacity, and intelligent traffic management to ensure a seamless experience for every user, no matter the demand.
Recognising that a standard setup would be inadequate, we engineered a comprehensive, resilient network from the ground up, designed for peak performance and unwavering stability.
At the heart of the system, we deployed two Netgear PR460x routers (main and backup). These both ingested two separate 10Gb WAN connections from the venue, with intelligent load balancing to maximise throughput and reliability. To guarantee 100% uptime, a 5G hot failover system was also integrated, ready to take over instantly in the event of a primary service interruption, ensuring connectivity was never lost.
The core router fed two Netgear M4350-44M4X4V 48-port managed switches. This powerful switching backbone provided the capacity and intelligence needed to manage traffic across the entire stand without bottlenecks. Each of our M4350 units have both the expansion power slots populated with the 2000watt modules, meaning we have over 6500 watts of poe budget available across the two switches.
From the core switches, we provided dual network links (main and backup) to every critical device on the floor, each capable of delivering a stable 2.5Gbps connection. For site-wide wireless coverage, we designed a deployment of eight Netgear WBE718 WiFi 7 access points, to deliver next-generation speed and capacity for a high-density user environment. The entire infrastructure was built on Cat6a cabling, over 300 connectors expertly terminated and certified on-site by a small team within one day, guaranteeing 10Gbps-ready performance throughout. We also provided multimode LC – LC fibre connections between a stand and their custom graphics server in a machine room to give them 25gbit per line connectivity between stand and server.
Beyond the hardware, the success of the project hinged on sophisticated network management.
We implemented advanced Quality of Service (QoS) protocols to manage connection speeds per device. This created a perfectly balanced network, providing stable and consistent performance for the high number of general users. Simultaneously, it reserved enough high-speed bandwidth to create a priority lane for the AV team and specific operators. This allowed them to download massive files, some exceeding 100GB, in just minutes, with absolutely no service interruption or slowdown for other users on the network.
We also worked directly with on-stand vendors to facilitate specific network requests, such as port forwarding and rule changes, allowing their proprietary applications to function flawlessly.
We successfully delivered this high-performance network under immense pressure and a tight deadline. The project's success demonstrates our commitment to continually evolving our solutions to meet the escalating demands of modern events. By engineering a system with dual 10Gbps backbones, comprehensive redundancy, and intelligent traffic shaping, we have established a new benchmark for what is possible in temporary network infrastructure. This project proves our capacity to not only handle today's large-scale briefs but also to provide the future-proof, scalable architecture that even more ambitious projects will require tomorrow.
If your event's success depends on unbreakable, high-performance connectivity, contact us to learn how our network infrastructure solutions can become your foundation.
