9/29/2017 Whats next for Wi-Fi?

- Airport World Magazine

com/a

(http://www.airport-world.com/)

portwo

Search...
m/+Ai

(http://www.eezeetags.com/en/home)
m/gro

IT (/features/it.html) LAST MODIFIED ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2017

WHATS NEXT FOR WI-FI?

Boingos Danielle Aiello outlines the top wireless trends that airports should take note of as they plan the next phase of their development.

Airports invested a record $9 billion on IT in 2016, according to SITA, with mobile solutions accounting for a big portion of the global spend as the industry
continued to look for new ways of catering to the connected passenger.

From mobile ticketing to instant ight updates, there has been an explosion of technology everywhere we turn and its only the beginning!

Airport wireless networks are at the heart of satisfying passengers voracious mobile appetites. Today, travellers primarily rely on wireless connections to check
social channels like Facebook and Instagram; stream sports, TV and music apps such as Spotify and HBO; and download large les from the o ce.

But looking ahead, airports will turn to their wireless networks to more aggressively integrate m-commerce strategies that tap into mobile to recoup some of the
cost of providing seamless connectivity.

By 2019, SITA estimates that 84% of airports will enable purchasing of airport services through their mobile app, and 29% plan to extend purchasing of airport
(http://www.ameresco.com/customers/airports/)
services to passengers Smartwatches.

And it doesnt stop there, as the dawn of the Internet of Things (IoT) will also impact on wireless network strategies.

In the future, ground operations, security checkpoints, runway monitoring, baggage handling and building management are all functions that will be
transformed through a network of internet-connected objects that rely on embedded sensors to collect and exchange data. And it will all be tied back to the
passenger experience.

For example, startups all the way up to major consumer brands like Samsonite are developing smart luggage with the IoT in mind. Suitcases are now being
equipped with features such as GPS tracking, ngerprint locks, weight noti cations and proximity sensors.

Airlines are also starting to lead the charge by implementing connected beacons during the baggage handling process. This, in turn, gives airlines the ability to
transmit baggage proximity information to customers at bag drop and baggage claim, improving con dence in an area that has traditionally lacked passenger-
savvy tracking.

Wireless connectivity is central to the passenger journey and as technology continues to evolve, even the most advanced airports will be challenged to respond
to digital shifts in the industry.

To stay ahead and not fall behind, heres a summary of the top wireless trends every airport should take note of.

Wi-Fi reimagined: Hybrid networks and Virtualisation

While major airports have embraced Wi-Fi to better serve travellers and their crave for connectivity, we are now entering a new era of airport wireless that
merges both free and paid models not one over the other.

The growing trend is to o er passengers more choice and control and move away from Wi-Fi networks that are a one size ts all approach. For example, the Wi-
Fi requirements of an occasional leisure traveller who gets online to check email or update Facebook are vastly di erent from those of a business passenger
who wants the network to function as an extension of the o ce. Networks should be exible to meet each passengers individual needs.

Hybrid Wi-Fi networks can enable an experience that is fast, multi-platform, analytics-driven, responsive and tiered. Airports can secure these bene ts by
upgrading networks with the following features: WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access) security encryption; tiered services with varying speed and bandwidth levels;
actionable insights such as queue management, pathing and way nding; content management system (CMS) tools; and device exibility across Smartphones,
tablets and laptops.

http://www.airport-world.com/features/it/6335-what-s-next-for-wi-fi.html 1/4
9/29/2017 Whats next for Wi-Fi? - Airport World Magazine
As it relates to speed, remember that speed alone does not equal an optimal user experience. Networks need to be packed with features that provide a
combination of speed, density and coverage for seamless connectivity.

Wireless infrastructures should also take Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) into consideration. NFV is a new technology that is receiving heightened
attention for its ability to eliminate the need for expensive hardware and physical infrastructure, while reducing capital expenditures (CapEx) and operating
expenses (OpEx).
com/a

Prioritising Passpoint
portwo
To create a truly ubiquitous connectivity experience for travellers one that removes the headaches of Wi-Fi log-ins and other frustrations airports are
adopting Passpoint.

Passpoint is a new set of wireless protocols that enable seamless, secure, automatic Wi-Fi access, with no user action needed. The technology has the power to
m/+Ai
fundamentally change the way consumers connect to Wi-Fi, doing away with public Wi-Fi network log-ins and browser redirects, dramatically improving the
experience of connecting within an airport.

Travellers with a Passpoint pro le installed on their device can enjoy an automatic connection with the fastest Wi-Fi speeds available at the venue from the
m/gro
moment they enter the airport.

Passpoint networks also provide a WPA2 encrypted connection automatically, ensuring enterprise-level security, with no additional software or Virtual Private
Network (or VPNs) needed.

Airport IT teams should do a full survey of their current network to determine Passpoint readiness. Passpoint networks require hardware supporting the
Hotspot 2.0 technical speci cation created by the Wi-Fi Alliance, which makes the seamless hand-o between networks possible.

Networks that have not been upgraded in the last three or more years might need updated access points installed. Networks that have been updated with new
access points in the last 18-24 months may be able to support Hotspot 2.0 with a quick rmware upgrade.

Monetising Passpoint

Passenger concerns tied to the cost of domestic and international mobile roaming fees is building. Airports can be the connectivity hero by alleviating these
concerns with networks that enable Wi-Fi o oad. This approach also opens monetisation opportunities through carrier agreements.

The top priority of a carrier is to provide fast and uninterrupted connectivity that their customers come to expect, but in high-tra c venues like airports, this can
be jeopardised due to high-volume usage that puts extraordinary pressure on existing cell towers and infrastructure.

To address the ongoing mobile data explosion, carriers are exploring converged networks that leverage Wi-Fi o oad features via Passpoint.

With Passpoint, the infrastructure is in place to deploy transfer between cellular and Wi-Fi without sacri cing the user experience. As the automatic connect
feature augments connectivity, it can be paid for by a primary service provider like a wireless carrier or cable operator as roaming onto Wi-Fi networks can be
more cost e ective then moving customers onto roaming cellular towers.

To o set network costs, airports can also turn to advertising solutions that o er sponsored Wi-Fi sessions. Brands are attracted to sponsorship campaigns as
they o er several screens of exclusive, high-impact interactions with appealing demographics.

Going beyond Wi-Fi: Tapping cellular DAS networks

Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) are nding a home in major airports to boost mobile phone coverage and complement Wi-Fi networks.

DAS solutions solve capacity and coverage issues by deploying hundreds of small antennae throughout the airport and integrating them into a cohesive cellular
network.

These individual antennae can be turned up or down, easily adjusting to provide additional capacity when its needed most, whether for holiday travel or
summer vacation season.

A well-designed DAS set-up can also limit interference, ensuring that all sectors of an airport have equal access to cellular connectivity. Further, cellular DAS
networks can help o set costs by bringing in carrier participation.

Convergence is key

When sorting through the wireless toolbox, airports will be hard pressed to opt for both Wi-Fi and cellular solutions. Wi-Fi and cellular working in tandem is
called network convergence, which provides more throughput, reduced latency, better coverage and lower costs.

Network convergence is a win-win as the wireless platform lays the necessary foundation for airports to answer the demand for more mobile data and wireless
connectivity.

The world of wireless comes with many promises, but to make it a reality, airports must lay the necessary network foundation to power seamless connectivity.

http://www.airport-world.com/features/it/6335-what-s-next-for-wi-fi.html 2/4
9/29/2017 Whats next for Wi-Fi? - Airport World Magazine

About the author

Danielle Aiello is vice president, account management at Boingo Wireless, where she oversees relationships with the companys airport portfolio. She can be
contacted at (mailto:<script type='text/javascript'> <!-- var pre x = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; var addy12697 = 'daiello' + '@'; addy12697 =
com/a
addy12697 + 'boingo' + '.' + 'com'; document.write('<a ' + path + '\'' + pre x + ':' + addy12697 + '\'>'+ addy12697+ '<\/a>'); //-->\n </script><script
type='text/javascript'> <!-- document.write('<span style=\'display: none;\'>'+ 'This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript
portwo
enabled to view it.'+ '</'+ 'span>'); //--> </script>.)daiello@boingo.com (mailto:daiello@boingo.com).

m/+Ai
TAGGED UNDER

AW4 2017 (/FEATURES/IT/TAG/AW4%202017.HTML)

m/gro AIRPORT WORLD ISSUE 4 2017 (/FEATURES/IT/TAG/AIRPORT%20WORLD%20ISSUE%204%202017.HTML)
BOINGO (/FEATURES/IT/TAG/BOINGO.HTML)
DANIELLE AIELLO (/FEATURES/IT/TAG/DANIELLE%20AIELLO.HTML)
TOP WIRELESS TRENDS (/FEATURES/IT/TAG/TOP%20WIRELESS%20TRENDS.HTML)

SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Tweet

Like 2.3k Share

ARTICLE OPTIONS

font size
Print (/features/it/6335-what-s-next-for-wi- .html?tmpl=component&print=1)
E-mail Email (/component/mailto/?tmpl=component&template=easytemplate&link=e882b793fa96d2900035f9ee4245c83fde6e6a1b)

RELATED ITEMS

SECURITY THROUGH CULTURE (/FEATURES/SAFETY-SECURITY/6340-SECURITY-THROUGH-CULTURE.HTML)

RAISING THE BAR (/FEATURES/RETAIL-F-B/6339-RAISING-THE-BAR.HTML)

CREATING EXPERIENCES (/FEATURES/AIRPORT-DESIGN/6337-CREATING-EXPERIENCES.HTML)

WATCHING BRIEF (/FEATURES/AIRPORT-DESIGN/6336-WATCHING-BRIEF.HTML)

THE NEXT STEP (/FEATURES/AIRPORT-PROFILES/6334-THE-NEXT-STEP.HTML)

0 Comments Airport World

1 Login

Sort by Best
Recommend Share

Start the discussion

LOG IN WITH
OR SIGN UP WITH DISQUS ?

Name

Be the first to comment.

ALSO ON AIRPORT WORLD

Thyssenkrup signs record breaking deal for 143 new boarding
bridges at Istanbul New
5 comments a year ago
Ahmed Saleh I'm proud being working for thyssenkrupp, and I wish I
could join such a great project.Kindest Regards,Ahmed Saleh.
Traffic growth, airport ownership and Brexit on the agenda at
Airport Economics &
1 comment 6 months ago
David Bentley I think Mr Jankovec sums up the 'Brexit' position well.
But everyone needs to understand that aviation is not high in the UK's

BLOG: LED lighting automation soars ahead of traditional
manual fluorescents
1 comment a year ago
Brihat_energy Very informative blog.! LED lighting has more benefits
that traditional Bulbs. Some of benefits are Long life, energy saving
BLOG: The next big wave of US airport infrastructure projects
3 comments 8 months ago
Phillip Fine Good point, Joe. For the harsh effects of Nimbyism, just
look at the years that Heathrow has spent trying to lay down a third

Subscribe d Add Disqus to your siteAdd DisqusAdd Privacy

back to top (/features/it/6335-what-s-next-for-wi- .html#startOfPageId6335) MORE IN IT (/features/it.html)

http://www.airport-world.com/features/it/6335-what-s-next-for-wi-fi.html 3/4
9/29/2017 Whats next for Wi-Fi? - Airport World Magazine

com/a

(/component/banners/click/92.html)

portwo

m/+Ai

m/gro

(/component/banners/click/96.html)

(/component/banners/click/94.html)

(/component/banners/click/89.html)

GET THE AIRPORT WORLD NEWSLETTER!

Email

FIRST NAME

LAST NAME
Subscribe

MOST READ NEWS

UK'S BIGGEST AIRPORT OPERATOR LAUNCHES RECRUITMENT DRIVE
(/NEWS/GENERAL-NEWS/6355-UK-S-BIGGEST-AIRPORT-OPERATOR-LAUNCHES-
RECRUITMENT-DRIVE.HTML)

(/NEWS/GENERAL-NEWS/6355-UK-S-BIGGEST-AIRPORT-OPERATOR-LAUNCHES-
RECRUITMENT-DRIVE.HTML)

LONDON STANSTED'S CEO CALLS FOR THE UK GOVERNMENT TO SET OUT ITS
AIRPORTS VISION (/NEWS/GENERAL-NEWS/6352-LONDON-STANSTED-S-CEO-
CALLS-FOR-THE-GOVERNMENT-TO-SET-OUT-ITS-AIRPORTS-VISION.HTML)

http://www.airport-world.com/features/it/6335-what-s-next-for-wi-fi.html 4/4