Connectivity is the big talk in town! Over the past decade, there has been an increase in the number of connected device per user and thus the demand for connectivity has increased exponentially as a result. Along with that, we have seen the emergence of new platforms and services and as a result, being connected to the internet is a necessity. As large companies such as Google focusses on decreasing the “Connectivity Gap”, the need to stay connected has further increased the demand for internet bandwidth in general.

As a result, internet connectivity is no longer regarded as a luxury in the hotel industry. At an average, a hotel guest checks in with at least three smart devices. They expect maximum coverage and to stay connected throughout the hotel, thus highlighting the need for stable and reliable wireless network. Great wi-fi is one of the key influences when deciding which hotel to book for your next vacation. Further to that, review platforms such as Trip Advisor has been come the norm whenever you’re making vacation decisions. The Hospitality experience is no longer judged on aesthetic or service quality alone by on wireless internet access!

No Wi-Fi? No Booking!

Over the years, the hotel industry has seen a drastic rise in bandwidth requirement for Guest. Major hotel brands have countered that requirement by ensuring the latest technology and enhancements to the Guest Wi-Fi experience are implemented. Services such as Captive portals and Social Media Login Integration has provided an easy way for the hotel guests to connect and most importantly, to stay connected to the internet.

In some cases, it has become difficult for smaller hotel establishments to provide decent quality of internet connectivity due to a number of factors mainly; poor ISP support or the cost of upgrading their existing outdated network infrastructure.

BUT...

However, not all is lost! With the emergence of passive optical network and with the reduction of cost for Wi-Fi network equipments, smaller establishments can offer the same level of connectivity as their branded counterparts. Needless to say, the demand for faster internet in the hotel industry is not going to slow down any time soon. The BYOD (Bring your own device) idea has taken off like a storm and guest are now ever so demanding as they want the same Netflix experience as back home. Therefore the Hotel IT Department is kept on their toes to ensure that the Guest Expectation is met.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity." - Albert Einstein