[Pursuant to an earlier thread, this article appeared in today's New
York Times. -Sj]
November 1, 2001
Airports Press Ahead on Wireless Access
By GLENN FLEISHMAN
HIGH-SPEED wireless data networks, which many airports once saw as
the perfect intersection of traveler, revenue and technology, have
faced serious hurdles this year, including the demise of some
Internet service providers and a lackluster response from travelers
with laptop computers. Yet a handful of companies continue to expand
their networks.
The year started out positively enough, as millions of laptops and
other devices were shipped with built-in antennas or cards supporting
the industry standard known as Wi- Fi, which allows high-speed,
short- range connections.
But customer demand lagged. Vancouver International Airport, for
example, switched on its wireless network, built by Nokia
(news/quote) Internet Communications, in February 2000, but "the
traveling public did not greet the network as rapidly as
anticipated," said Kevin Molloy, the airport's vice president for
information technology and telecommunications. Nokia began operating
the network on its own after an early partner pulled out of the
market.
Another airport, San Francisco International, had successive
contracts with two firms that both failed without installing a single
network access point. John Payne, the airport's director of
information technology and telecommunications, said that the airport
had "made some bets early on, when things were a little rosier than
they were now."
"You really need to pick your vendors carefully," he said. Still, Mr.
Payne anticipates that high-speed wireless service will be available
in one to two years.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is also slowly moving
ahead under an agreement with Concourse Communications to roll out
service gradually to the three major airports it runs - LaGuardia,
Newark and Kennedy International - starting sometime next year.
Concourse, which is a recent addition to the wireless Internet
service provider market and is based in Springfield, Mass., plans to
offer limited service at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
starting this month. Dick Snyder, senior vice president for business
development, said that Concourse would extend coverage to more
terminals as demand rises.
The three New York-area airports now have active wireless networks
only in the Admirals Club sites of American Airlines, with coverage
provided by MobileStar, which also operates in Admirals Club lounges
in 14 other airports. MobileStar has had the highest profile among
wireless service providers through its contract with Starbucks
(news/quote), for which it equipped 700 outlets. Although MobileStar
laid off its entire staff in mid- October, it has remained active in
airports and some other areas as its investors seek new financing or
a buyer.
Among other companies keeping the faith in wireless airport service
is Wayport, a company in Austin, Tex., that serves airports in
Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Seattle and San Jose, Calif. An
Ottawa-based venture known as Sky.Link Internet Plus offers service
in Ottawa and Calgary, Alberta. Both companies also serve hotels.
Wayport hopes to continue expanding in airports through its recent
acquisition of nine Laptop Lanes locations across the United States.
These Laptop Lanes sites offer private cubicles with wired Ethernet
connections for an hourly rate.
Wayport's vice president for marketing, Dan Lowden, said the company
hoped to add wireless service at each Laptop Lanes site. "We have to
do it store by store, work with each one of the airports, and find
out if they're accepting of it," he said.
Prices for the services vary. In Vancouver, Nokia offers credit-card
purchases in five-minute increments for the equivalent of 63 cents.
It also sells a Wi-Fi PC Card bundled with unlimited permanent access.
Users of MobileStar must create an account under one of five payment
plans ranging from 20 cents per minute to $60 per month for unlimited
time. Wayport charges a minimum rate of $5 for 24 hours of use in
airports and $8 for 24 hours of use in hotels, with both rates
relying on $50 prepaid debit accounts; prices are somewhat higher
without the prepaid account. Wayport users may also pay $50 a month
for unlimited time in all venues.
Denver International Airport finds itself in an unusual situation:
although Nokia finished installing and testing the airport's
extensive Wi-Fi coverage in June, the wireless company has been
unable to find a partner willing to take over network operations like
customer accounts and maintenance.
Sky.Link charges 10 Canadian dollars (about $6.30) per hour with no
sign-up required or $20 per month for unlimited time. Concourse has
not yet set prices but expects them to be in line with those of other
operators.
Copyright 2001 The New York Times Company
