England's World Cup match drives record mobile traffic amid major viewing surge

England's World Cup match against DR Congo saw unprecedented mobile traffic spikes as millions streamed the game during their evening commutes. EE reported a peak of 42% above average traffic, while O2's traffic increased by 20.4% compared to its prior record. The rise in mobile usage correlated with a 7.4% week-over-week increase in high street footfall, especially prominent in London, where visits surged 31.7% in the hours leading up to kickoff. As fans gathered in pubs and bars to watch the match, activity continued to increase even after the game began. England's next match is scheduled to start at 1am, which may further affect evening economic activity.

• 10:09 AMYahoo Sports — England’s World Cup victory sparked record traffic on major UK mobile networks