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Public WiFi: The Holy Grail for the dammed


Johannesburg, 24 Aug 2016

Travellers need secure, low-cost access to online services, whenever they travel, wherever they are. It should therefore not be surprising that 44% connect before they leave the airport1, many via public WiFi, to check in with family and the office. This urge to connect however is putting their data at risk and for corporate travellers this may lead to company directors being jailed or a fine of up to R10m, says execMobile.

This WiFi first culture exists due to the mobile operators extortionate roaming rates, even though cybercrime is commonplace abroad. Of 11 850 travellers surveyed, almost one in five (18%) have been victims of cybercrime while travelling1.

This is not surprising when only 24% of mobile data is secured2, mostly via VPN services from laptops. Laptops are too cumbersome for travelling, and tablets and mobile phones have become the devices of choice for travel convenience; many have no VPN protection, albeit they carry as much corporate data as a laptop.

With less than 19% of mobile roaming traffic unrelated to work2, most of this unsecured traffic is business-related, and presents a major threat to corporates.

Corporates must maintain security and manage costs, however travellers need to arrive connected and remain so. There is an immediate need to hail an Uber, check in with work, navigate using Google Maps or simply use online travel services. This provides the IT manager with a massive dilemma as busy travellers simply cannot wait 2-24 hours for a local SIM card to activate.

Even new roaming offers from the operators remain expensive relative to local costs, and using local SIM cards is limited to tech savvy travellers or those with time. The balance, are driven to public WiFi via tablets or phones, meaning the corporate is operating at security levels they would never deem acceptable. Security levels in breach of their own corporate network standards and the upcoming requirements of POPI here in South Africa.

Secure, international mobile data, at near local costs is the need. According to legend, the Holy Grail has special powers designed to provide happiness, eternal youth and infinite abundance; a bit like free public WiFi, but only fraught with more danger.

(1) Kaspersky Lab International Travel Report 2016.
(2) execMobile 2015 Usage Analysis.

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execMobile

execMobile provides a secure, mobile Wifi device to provide connectivity when and where it is needed. When abroad simply switch on the device and it will connect to a primary local carrier, at near local cost. Its savings are 99% compared to standard roaming rates, or at least 58% better than operators' best rates. Any WiFi capable device can connect to the PocketWifi, providing travellers with their own personal, secure connection to the Internet. This POPI compliant connection is available on arrival and when mobile. Voice and video are supported via any of the standard over the top (OTT) apps such as Skype, WhatsApp or MS Lync.

The Pocket Wifi is not restricted to a single user, so can be pooled for availability to whoever is making the next trip. Additionally, up to 10 devices or users can be connected concurrently; this means a group travelling together could use the same PocketWifi. Importantly, we offer local pre-paid data for South Africa from 7c/MB, enabling the device to be used at home.

The execMobile PocketWifi solution meets all the needs of today's Business Traveller, with high security and low cost. We eliminated R138m in potential roaming costs for our customers in 2015!

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