Public internet access: who is responsible?

In the first of a series of articles looking at business issues faced by IT managers, we look at the steps companies need to take if they open their networks up to visitors.

By Stephen Pritchard, 12 Mar 2010 at 12:20

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The UK has tens of thousands of public Wi-Fi hotpots. Exact estimates of the number vary widely: Ofcom, the industry regulator, last reported on the market in 2007 and calculated that there were 12,000.

Other, more recent industry surveys have put the number at anywhere between 10,000 and 25,000, with the total expected to reach 30,000 by 2012. BT, the UK’s largest provider, has 4,000 hotspots alone, under its Openzone brand.

The actual number of locations where mobile workers or consumers can use Wi-Fi is, in reality, far higher. As well as commercial hotspots from providers such as BT Openzone and The Cloud, there are businesses such as cafes, pubs and shops that provide free internet access, but which are not on any national directory.

Then there are the “informal” hotspots: wireless access points owned by consumers or businesses who either knowingly – or perhaps unwittingly – allow others to use their networks.

“Large organisations in particular should be looking at making Internet access just a hygiene factor - anyone who is regarded as "friendly" should be able to access the internet directly from their equipment when they are on your site,” suggests Clive Longbottom, of IT analysts Quocirca.

“There is nothing more annoying than turning up somewhere with 30 minutes to spare and then finding that there's no Internet access.”

A community service, or an unwarranted risk?

Although giving guests and visitors the use of the net is a convenience – and for restaurants, cafes and hotels it might well be part of the business model – it is not without risk.

Chief among these are issues around data security, including the risk of a malware infection; the risk that “guests” might use up a disproportionate amount of network resources, and the risk that the network owner might be held liable for illegal activity carried out by visitors.

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1 comments

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We need a universal service

To some extent we already have the answer. BT has been promoting BT FON for some time. I like many others have created a 512k BT Openzone access on my home hub. It is available quickly for me when I need a quick temporary wireless setup (don't have to remember the WPA key) and provides a community of mutual wifi users. There is no bigger frustration than arriving at Burger King or a pub and having to request a password from someone who hasn't a clue what you are talking about. In McDonalds you have to go through a registration process by which time my big MAC has gone cold. This all needs management that no doubt costs. It has to be a lot less hassle and cheaper for business premises to utilise something like BT FON. The network use is then between the consumer and BT FON whilst still providing a service to encourage trade. Wouldn't it be great to get wifi access anywhere using the same User ID. A service worth paying a small fee for. (BT Total Braodband includes some free Openzone minutes). If not BT FON something very similar with cross agreements between the hotspot providers which sadly went sour.

By meadmodj on Monday Jun 7