[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