SPECIAL REPORT: PLANNING & DESIGN
What’s next for Wi-Fi? Boingo’s Danielle Aiello outlines the top wireless trends that airports should take note of as they plan the next phase of their development.
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irports 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 flight updates, there has been an explosion of technology everywhere we turn – and it’s 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 files from the office. 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 services to passengers’ Smartwatches. And it doesn’t 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 internetconnected 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, fingerprint locks, weight notifications 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 confidence 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, here’s 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 offer passengers more choice and control and move away from Wi-Fi networks that are a one size fits all approach. For example, the Wi-Fi requirements of an occasional leisure traveller who gets online to check email or update Facebook are vastly different from those of a business passenger who wants the network to function as an extension of the office. Networks should be flexible to meet each passenger’s individual needs. Hybrid Wi-Fi networks can enable an experience that is fast, multi-platform, analytics-driven, responsive and tiered. Airports can secure these benefits 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 wayfinding; content management system (CMS) tools; and device flexibility across Smartphones, tablets and laptops. 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
AIRPORT WORLD/AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2017
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