From 19 to 21 June 2026, Unicorn Festival once again brought Antwerp three days of open-minded dance, art and good vibes across three stages. Behind the scenes, Astro Rent took care of one very specific piece of technology: a stable, separate network for the cashless payment system. Fast deployment, smooth payments.

For us, Unicorn Festival was no stranger. Last year, we first met the organisation through a #SOS Network request — a last-minute call where every hour counts. This year, things went differently. And better.

Last year: a network under time pressure

When the organisation contacted us last year, the festival date was already close on the calendar. Through our SOS Network, we moved quickly: drawing up a setup plan, preparing the equipment and installing it on-site within a very tight timeframe. The network was ready on time and payments ran smoothly — but a last-minute intervention always comes at a price. Rush jobs cost more, with us just as anywhere else.

This year: booking early pays off

For the 2026 edition, the organisation got in touch well in advance. That translated directly into two advantages.

First, a sharper price. Booking early gives us the room to calmly plan the logistics, equipment and setup without a rush surcharge. We gladly pass that breathing room back in the quote.

Second, we could save on installation costs. Because we already knew the site from last year, we knew exactly where to place the access points, how the cable routes ran and where the points of attention were. No reconnaissance needed, no surprises — simply rolling out the same proven setup efficiently once more.

The setup: one network, exclusively for cashless

The venue provides its own internet connection. We connect our own equipment to it: Astro Rent supplies the gateway and access points at three strategic locations on the site — the entrance, the central bar and the small food court.

An important detail: this is a network that serves exclusively the cashless payment system. No public visitor WiFi, no noise from thousands of smartphones competing for bandwidth. Only the payment terminals communicate over this network. That keeps the connection stable exactly where it matters financially.

Why a separate network for cashless?

At a festival, catering revenue stands or falls with payment speed at the counter. If the network stutters, the till stutters too — and queues grow at the bar while visitors wait instead of order.

By physically separating payment traffic from all other connectivity, you prevent a busy evening on the public network from slowing down your transactions. Every payment finds a free, predictable route. The result is a payment process that behaves exactly as an organiser expects: fast, reliable and invisible. The best network infrastructure is the one no one at the festival ever thinks about, because everything simply works.

The result

A returning client, the same reliable setup, a sharper price and lower installation costs — and a payment system that ran smoothly for three days straight. Fast deployment, smooth payments. Exactly what matters at a festival.

Plan your event in time

The biggest lesson from this case? Book early. Locking in your network well in advance gets you a better price and greater certainty. Cutting it close anyway? Our SOS Network is ready to move fast.

Organising a festival, event or market and looking for a reliable network for your cashless payments, ticketing or visitor WiFi? Get in touch with Astro Rent for a setup tailored to your site.

Frequently asked questions

What is a cashless network at a festival? A cashless network is a temporary network infrastructure that exclusively connects the electronic payment terminals at an event to each other and to the payment platform. By separating this traffic from visitor WiFi, payments remain fast and stable, even during busy periods.

Why a separate network for cashless payments? Because payment speed directly determines catering revenue. A dedicated network prevents thousands of smartphones on the public network from slowing down payment transactions. Payment traffic gets a free, predictable route and queues at the bar stay short.

Can I rent a network at the last minute for my event? Yes. Through Astro Rent’s SOS Network, we move quickly for last-minute requests. However, booking early gets you a sharper price, as planning and logistics can then proceed without a rush surcharge.

How much does a temporary network for an event cost? The price depends on the size of the site, the number of connection points, the required bandwidth and the duration of the event. An early booking and a recurring setup at a familiar site reduce installation costs. Request a tailored quote for a concrete price.

Looking for a similar case? Read how we provided a redundant network for cashless payments at Bevrijdingsfestival Brabant 2026.