Now Boarding: In-flight Wi-Fi

This week, USA Today reported that Delta Airlines is now offering in-flight Wi-Fi on flights between Regan National, LaGuardia, and Logan airports. The service, called Gogo, is provided by Aircell. Gogo works by connecting a plane’s Wi-Fi hot spot to the ground over a 3 MHz signal that links to Aircell’s network of 92 cell towers across the United States. Passengers traveling with Wi-Fi enabled devices can have access to the service for a nominal fee ($9.95 for flights lasting three hours or less, and $12.95 for trips exceeding three hours). And speed? Well, Aircell’s Web site doesn’t mention specific download/upload figures, but users say the service performs well.

Delta’s decision to upgrade its in-flight service menu follows that of competitors. American Airlines launched its Gogo service a few months ago—with power outlets at every seat in business and first class. Coach passengers get one outlet for every two rows. No privacy filters to shield your laptop screen from prying eyes though. You’re on your own there.

In-flight connectivity is, of course, not new. Boeing actually came to market with its Connexion service in 2004, when the product was offered on international carriers like Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines. Unfortunately, the company’s bulky 400-pound system didn’t find wide appeal among domestic airlines, so Connexion was discontinued in 2006. But that was two years ago…

Aircell’s system is light-weight at just 125 pounds, and the company cites easy installation and expert client support as selling points. And then there’s the potential revenue boost. These days, many passengers travel with an electronic device, and airlines are guessing that while those folks are munching on their honey-roasted peanuts, they’ll also want to e-mail, surf, chat, and shop. If their hunch is right, demands for VoIP won’t be far off.

Where for Art Though, oh Wi-Fi Hot Spot?

Are you planning to travel somewhere, and do you anticipate needing access to the Internet during that time? Most hotel properties now have Internet access for their guests, but many tend to charge an additional fee for this service. However, if you need to get on the Internet where wired service isn’t available, there are numerous options that provide this access on a wireless network called Wi-Fi.

Most of North Carolina’s public libraries have this service, so they are listed in the following links. But plenty of others are – consider the myriad coffee shops and McDonalds that now serve as community Wi-Fi hot spots, often at no cost.

Here are two sources to preview before you venture out into the land of “what-if-there-isn’t-connectivity.”

http://www.wi-fihotspotlist.com/

http://www.jiwire.com/browse-hotspot-all-united-states-us-north-carolina-nc-28.htm

These can be used as a resource for finding wireless access points around the world and here at home. As for North Carolina, there are over 1,800 hot spot locations listed on the first site, and around 1,700 listed on the second site.

A Wi-Fi hot spot is defined as any location in which 802.11 (wireless) technology exists and is also made available for use by consumers. In some cases, the wireless access is free, but many locales have charges for this service. But as ever, buyer (or user) beware. Enhanced security measures should always be used to protect your credentials, passwords and data during wireless Internet sessions.

Hurricane season is here - do you have a communications plan?

Tropical Storm Fay is the first storm of the season to even flirt with the idea of dumping some weather on North Carolina. With everything that Florida and the Gulf have suffered through for the last few years, you have to wonder if in the give-and-take of Atlantic Hurricane Seasons, it is the Carolinas' "turn" to get it.

So - since we've had a relatively long stretch of hurricane-free years - the forthcoming (potential) arrival of Fay makes us think about emergency communication plans. Stocking up. Boarding up. Heading out of dodge, if need be.

The Home Safety Council recently reported that only 30 percent of households have discussed and created an emergency communications plan - specifically outlining how families would stay connected in the case of a major weather or disaster event. And this topic is so intimately tied to technology these days because of our collective dependence on linkage with each other though mediums like Internet access and cell/mobile coverage. It may sound like a stretch, but this is a truly great example of how Internet connectivity has infiltrated every portion of modern society.

Entrepreneurial ISPs (especially wireless), take heed

We receive a number of calls from entrepreneurs and ISPs wanting to start a wireless Internet access network. They usually ask what areas need the service, info on tower availability, where would they be the most successful, and also if we happen to have any grant funding. They have usually looked at our Web site and understand that our mission is to work toward universal high-speed Internet access to every citizen of North Carolina.

Normally, the urban counties, metropolitan areas, larger towns and larger subdivisions have at least one type of high-speed Internet access whether it is by cable modem, DSL or wireless. A business case for these areas is easy to develop (with all those potential customers packed in together), so they already have service. The small towns, communities, crossroads and rural areas of our state are the areas lacking high-speed Internet access, yet they are the areas that need it the most. These are the areas that need to be served, but are the hardest to develop a business case for.

Tower availability is also harder to find in these areas. Most water tanks already have some form of wireless equipment on them and most communities have set up guidelines and fees for their use; some have very stringent requirements and hefty fees associated with them. Getting access to fire towers has also become more difficult and backhaul transport to these locations is very expensive. All of these hidden and obvious costs have to be included in the business plan for entrepreneurs interested in starting a new ISP. And don’t forget a billing system, support staff and back office operations. It adds up.

But let’s get back to the case of effective wireless in rural communities…

Another issue for ISP entrepreneurs is access to customers, which is one of the main problems in rural areas. Manufacturers often present a “best-case” scenario when they advertise their radio equipment. Some state that their equipment is line-of-sight, but then give exaggerated examples of five to seven miles of coverage from their antenna. Some say that their signals can “blast through trees.” (They just don’t say what kind of tree.) We need for them to run some trials in the thick pine trees of rural North Carolina. According to some of the wireless providers we have talked with, pine trees “eat radio frequency.” Besides the trees, there are other items that cause interference and affect the range and quality of the signals.

Even with these challenges, wireless will probably be the only way a number of areas in North Carolina will ever see service. The e-NC Authority supports wireless efforts and the challenges outlined here are not meant to be negative or against wireless service. When ISP entrepreneurs spend their money, time and effort to serve these areas of our state, we want them to be successful. Our intention is to assist those entrepreneurial ISPs in developing a thorough business case. And when it comes time to deploy, we want them to be successful.

As for grants, we do not have any available at this time. If the N.C. General Assembly provides us with funding this year, we will address the counties with the lowest connectivity as we have in the past. And who knows – hopefully wireless can be a part of that…