Unicorn Festival 2026: from #SOSNetwork to a pre-planned cashless solution
How Astro Rent delivered a separate, stable network for the cashless payment system at Unicorn Festival 2026 in Antwerp. Book early = better price.
Read moreNetwork for cashless payments at events
A separate, monitored network for payment terminals, ticket scanning and token sales: fast, stable and isolated from visitor WiFi. Designed, installed and monitored live by Astro Rent.
Cashless payments stand or fall with the network
At a festival or event, bar revenue runs through payment terminals, wristbands and token tills. If the connection falters, the till falters. The queue grows, the visitor waits instead of ordering, and every minute of downtime is revenue that does not come back. That is why Astro Rent builds a separate network for cashless payments: isolated from visitor WiFi, with priority for payment traffic and a backup connection that takes over automatically.
The problem: one shared network at the busiest moment
Mobile networks overload as soon as thousands of visitors use their phones at once. Temporary setups often have weak WiFi coverage right at the sales points. Terminals get moved at the last minute without the network plan following. And sometimes there is a connection, but not enough capacity for dozens of simultaneous transactions. The cause of a “broken” terminal is rarely the terminal itself.
The solution: a dedicated network layer for payments
Astro Rent delivers the network layer under your cashless or ticketing system. We work with several payment and ticketing partners: their terminals and scanners connect to our network over WiFi or Ethernet, the transactions stay with the payment partner. In practice the setup consists of:
- a gateway with several internet connections (4G/5G from different operators, Starlink or a fixed line) and automatic failover;
- access points where the terminals are: entrance, bars, food court, token stand;
- a separate network (own VLAN or SSID) carrying only payment and scanning traffic, with priority (QoS);
- live monitoring through our Stardex platform and, on request, a technician on site.
How we did it on site
At Unicorn Festival in Antwerp we ran a network for three days that served only the cashless payment system, with access points at the entrance, the central bar and the food court. For Pukema in Puurs we set up six separate networks at six locations in the town centre, with six Starlink dishes and two point-to-point links, all monitored remotely. At Nacht der Nachten in Hoeselt we connected three ticket desks, a token stand and three bars across two halls and a tent with six access points, more than 400 metres of cabling and a technician on site.
What you get
A network design based on your floor plan and the number of payment points, installation by our team, a backup connection with automatic failover, live monitoring during the whole event and take-down afterwards. Your quote covers equipment, travel, installation and take-down, so you know where you stand in advance. Booking early gives us time to plan everything calmly and saves on price; if time is short, #SOSNetwork moves fast.
Practical applications
Payment terminals at bars and food stands
Every bar and food truck settles over its own priority network. No stranded transactions at the busiest moment of the evening.
Ticket scanning at the entrance
Scanners at the gates validate tickets and wristbands without delay, even when the queue at the entrance is longest.
Token and top-up stands
Sales points for tokens or wristband top-ups connect stably to the payment platform, separated from the public.
Several locations across a village or town
Scattered halls, tents and squares each get their own network, or one linked network over point-to-point links, depending on the distances.
Fallback connection and monitoring
4G/5G, Starlink or a fixed line in reserve, with automatic failover. We follow everything live and step in at the first deviation.
On-site presence during the event
On request, an Astro Rent technician stays on site to watch the network and adjust immediately.
CASE STUDIES
Temporary network Pukema Puurs — Astro Rent case
For Pukema in Puurs, Astro Rent deployed six temporary networks for cashless partner EventPay. Fast, scalable and reliable on site.
Read more
Nacht Der Nachten Case Study
Wireless network for ticket scanning, cashless payments and top-up
Read more
Resilient connectivity solutions for cashless payments
In the bustling world of events, providing a seamless cashless payment experience is of crucial importance. Astro Rent plays a key role in this with its comfortable and resilient network solutions.
Read moreFrequently asked questions
What is a cashless network at an event?
A temporary network that connects only the payment terminals, ticket scanners and token tills to the payment platform. The traffic is separated from visitor WiFi, gets priority and has a backup connection, so payments stay fast and stable even at peak moments.
Why is visitor WiFi or the mobile network not enough for payments?
Because thousands of smartphones compete for bandwidth at the same time. At a peak moment a shared network collapses, exactly when the till has to work. A separate network with priority for payment traffic and its own internet connection prevents the queue at the bar from growing because the terminal is waiting.
Does your network work with every cashless or ticketing platform?
Yes. We provide the network layer and work with several cashless and ticketing partners. Your payment partner's terminals connect to our network over WiFi or Ethernet; the software and the transactions stay with the payment partner.
What happens if the internet connection drops?
The network automatically switches to a second connection, for example from 4G/5G to Starlink or a fixed line. We follow every connection live through our Stardex monitoring platform and step in before the tills notice.
How many payment points can the network handle?
From one bar with three terminals to a festival site with dozens of tills, token stands and entrances. We size the network on the number of payment points, the distances between zones and the peak moments, and place access points where the terminals are.
How early should I request a cashless network?
Preferably a few weeks in advance, so we can review the floor plan and plan the installation calmly. Booking early saves on price and installation costs. If time is short, #SOSNetwork moves fast, the same day if needed.