A five-year contract covering the renewal, expansion, and operation of WiFi, wired, and fiber-optic networks
Wifirst, a leading telecom provider for multi-site businesses, has been selected by SEMEC to operate all connectivity infrastructure at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes. This five-year service concession covers the renewal, expansion, and operation of the venue’s WiFi, wired, and fiber-optic networks, serving organizers, exhibitors, and conference attendees from around the world.
to the sixth floor
to the core network
A world-class venue with exceptional technological requirements
The Cannes Film Festival, MIPIM, Cannes Lions… Every year, the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes hosts some of the world’s most high-profile and demanding events. With 35,000 m² of exhibition space and five auditoriums, the venue must keep pace with ever-growing connectivity demands.
Connectivity is now essential to the smooth running of events: some clients temporarily relocate part of their operations on site, exhibitors run live demonstrations, and thousands of visitors from around the world need to stay connected at all times.
The Palais des Festivals presents particularly complex technical challenges: very high user density, spaces spread from the second basement level to the sixth floor, outdoor areas requiring coverage, terraces along the Croisette, and temporary, modular event infrastructure. On top of this, the venue operates every day, meaning all technical work must be carried out without ever disrupting normal activity.
WiFi 7 and next-generation wired and fiber-optic networks
The infrastructure deployed and operated by Wifirst has been designed to meet these requirements:
- High-density WiFi 7 coverage across the entire venue, including its most challenging spaces, such as the 2,309-seat Grand Auditorium Louis Lumière, the 1,068-seat Théâtre Debussy, and the Terrasse Riviera, which can accommodate up to 4,500 people. This coverage is based on in-depth radio-frequency audits conducted throughout the site;
- Tailored wired and fiber-optic services for event organizers and exhibitors, built on a core network reinforced by ultra-high-speed 100 Gbit/s links;
- Round-the-clock operation of the infrastructure, coordinated with the Palais’s event calendar to ensure uninterrupted service.
Local roots backed by international expertise
To operate this concession, Wifirst relies on its Cannes-based subsidiary, Wifirst Agora, and has integrated the venue’s long-standing local team. Around ten employees—engineers, technicians, and account managers—bring in-depth knowledge of the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes and its specific characteristics.
This local team is now backed by the expertise of Wifirst’s engineering teams, its core network, and its support capabilities, all proven across thousands of sites throughout Europe.
The Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes is an extremely dense and technically demanding venue: 88,000 m² spread from level -2 to the sixth floor, hosting international events that demand proven, reliable technology. With Wifirst, we have complete confidence in the level of service we deliver to our clients. We hope this partnership will be a long-term one, in keeping with our mission: ‘To Sustainably Welcome the World.’
Managing connectivity at the Palais des Festivals de Cannes is one of the most rewarding challenges in our industry: delivering a flawless network experience in a venue where the whole world comes together. With the creation of our subsidiary Wifirst Agora, we are reaffirming our ambition to equip public venues, from convention centers to major event spaces. This contract demonstrates our ability to combine technological excellence, uninterrupted service, and a strong local presence.
