Deplaning at the Sydney Airport a few weeks ago I was informed by the Virgin Australia staff (the best airline I’ve ever had the pleasure of flying on btw) that the airport provided WIFI. Ever since acquiring my MacBook I’ve been on a constant quest for free WIFI. Especially when I’m traveling the pursuit justifies alternative routes and accommodations. No free WIFI means I’ll go elsewhere, and unfortunately it also means that I’ll usually pay more for the ability to check my email whenever I want. I was thrilled and eager to share the happy news that I’d landed safely with my friends and family. Sadly I had misunderstood ‘available WIFI’ for ‘free WIFI’. The WIFI is currently not free at the Sydney Airport. As with most international airports there are several service providers selling temporary connections at exorbitant rates. I declined and miserly waited nearly a week to inform my family that I hadn’t been tackled by a kangaroo or chased down by any emus.
Many inner-city areas have started providing free WIFI; however, it remains elusive most of the time. I can understand that service providers are in the business of making money, but can’t there be some sort of way to provide free WIFI and still make a profit? Why is it in the era of information overload and efficient communication technology that more often then not is there a lack of affordable or available WIFI? I'd love to be able to leave the house with just my phone and be able to buy stuff.
I’m not the type to try and hack into a secure wireless network. Simply because I know how much I’m currently paying per download and there’s no way I’d allow a stranger to use my account - so why would I mess around with someone else’s? What I think instead is that we need a global WIFI revolution.
Every country and region seems to have their own system for charging customers - most of which are out of date and lack validity. The system that makes the most sense to me is providing free WIFI and enhancing service packages for customers using WIFI enabled devices. Considering that most service providers are in the telecoms business it isn’t a huge leap to consider a new alternative. Why not provide free WIFI and make money through different types of services?
Interestingly, Estonia is one of the first countries to provide free nationwide WIFI. Other European countries are enjoying the benefits of free WIFI by creating new services; such as, Nokia’s beta trial at the Kamppi Shopping Centre in Helsinki, an indoor positioning system allowing users to send an SMS with precise location information to their friends. I can’t say that I’m enough of a shopping addict to require such a service, but I can see similar GPS tracking systems playing a vital role in locating lost children or pets.
I’m not sure what the answer is exactly, but I have a feeling there is some savvy entrepreneur out there who will see an opportunity in all of this madness and push the traditional game players out of our way.
