The use of data from mobile phone networks

The mobile phone has become an everyday object through which huge amounts of information are transmitted via the operators’ networks. The activities performed with the phone, especially those requiring geolocation, are sources of rich data (geographical presence, volume) to analyse individuals’ mobility and places of frequentation. Nevertheless, caution about the use of such data persists. Capture is subject to the conditions of use, to the environment, and to many technical devices. Through a case study of Roland-Garros, we evaluate the reliability of data from mobile phones by proposing an analysis of the stadium’s attendance and spectators’ mobility. To do so, we compare this method and the results obtained with two other survey methods: ticketing, and questionnaires.