Mobile operators lay on extra signal for emergencies at Pukkelpop

Mobile phone operators have increased their capacity in and around the Pukkelpop festival grounds to allow festival-goers to communicate with home in the event of an emergency. Four years ago, a heavy storm led to the deaths of five people at the festival, when stage equipment and tents collapsed.

The three main operators – Proximus, Mobistar and Base – agreed to take the measure, recalling the scenes in 2011 when festival-goers were unable to get in touch with friends at the scene or with family back home.

In the unlikely event of such an incident being repeated at the festival, which starts today, the operators have increased capacity to allow up to 42,000 text messages to be sent every minute. If necessary, they can also cut voice-call capacity to provide more capacity for texting.

The operators also suggested festival-goers use a short message for text or Twitter to let those at home know they are all right. Long telephone conversations, they said, use up capacity and could prevent others from contacting friends and loved ones.

In other Pukkelpop news, the Hasselt prosecutor’s office revealed that anyone caught using soft drugs, such as marijuana, at the festival will be able to pay their fine immediately using a Bancontact card. Police will be equipped with a mobile payment terminal to collect fines of €75 to €150. The move is part of a larger test project to begin in the area in September, the prosecutor said.