Network demand data can be determined by employing low cost sensing devices. In one aspect, the sensing devices can monitor user equipment activity and/or environmental conditions associated with a specific area. Sudden changes in the network demand at the area, for example, due to a planned or unplanned event, can be detected based on an analysis of the monitored information. Based on the changes, configuration parameters associated with antennas of one or more access points can be updated to improve network coverage and/or capacity at the area. In one example, a transmission power of an access point can be adjusted to increase network capacity. In another example, an antenna beam of the access point can be focused and/or steered towards the area to improve network coverage.