Internet Solutions (IS) has rolled out its 700th AlwaysOn hotspot in SA and analysts say the World Cup helped set the deadline for this project.
“The need is for more access points, such as the IS hotspots, so this initiative will in all probability grow going forward. The World Cup simply drew a line in the sand for a completion date of this project,” says World Wide Worx Strategy MD Steven Ambrose.
GM of WiFi and VOIP mobile at IS Justin Spratt agrees, saying the focus of this project has been around providing a positive Internet experience for World Cup supporters and the media that are expected to attend the event.
“This has been a very important goal for us leading up to June this year. It is important that tourists and media are able to communicate during their time in SA. WiFi will be the most cost-effective and most efficient (fastest) method of doing this. People can upload photos/videos about their experiences in SA and obviously more positive content leaving the country is great for our image as a World Cup host,” he adds.
Going up
Due to this focus on the World Cup, IS says the 700 AlwaysOn hotspots are in key locations across SA with a greater presence in the hospitality industry.
Spratt believes the number of hotspots will be sufficient for the large influx of people expected to arrive for the event. He explains that the IS hotspot locations have been chosen strategically, covering most of the hospitality industry.
IS says it has set up partnerships with groups such as ACSA airports, Sun International, City Lodge, Three Cities Hotels, Mugg and Bean, Seattle and other hotels and guesthouses.
The company plans to install 40 more hotspots by the beginning of the World Cup. “Our installation pipeline is full. We are also tripling up on our ADSL capacity on all our major sites to ensure that guests have the best WiFi experience possible,” adds Spratt.
Post World Cup
ICT industry analyst at Frost and Sullivan Protea Hirschel says the small number of people in SA having devices that enable WiFi will be a restraint for these hotspots after the World Cup, but the hotspots won't become redundant.
“If you put it out there people will use it, and there is growth in the devices people are using.”
Ambrose says that, with the expected Internet growth, the demand for hotspots will only increase. “With the current growth in Internet access, which should reach 10 million people by 2013, the need is for more access points such as the IS hotspots, not less. Simply put, these hotspots will get busier and will never become redundant.”
Spratt also says there will be a need for these hotspots once the World Cup is over. “The hospitality industry will always need WiFi connectivity. These days, the 'on-the-go employee' needs to be able to connect wherever they are, and thus the more ubiquitous WiFi is, the better.”
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