Travelers are increasingly demanding more than simply cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages. They are looking for airports that offer free Internet Service.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has announced that it will join the increasing list of airports that offer free Internet service. It expects to offer this service as early as this summer.
LAX airport visitors will be able to access Wi-Fi basic for free for time periods not to exceed 45 minutes. Customers will be provided the option of paying for premium and uninterrupted Wi-Fi service that will last for 24 hours at a time.
This announcement followed the Los Angeles Board of Commissions decision to approve a two year $663 thousand concession agreement with Advanced Wireless Group to provide free Wi-Fi service at the airport.
Presently LAX offers only a fee based Wi-Fi service through T-Mobile that costs $9.99 per session.
In a press release LAX noted that T-Mobile does not provide free Wi-Fi and has notified the airport that it will no longer provide Internet services as part of its business model. Airport officials view its new two year agreement with Advanced Wireless Group as a bridge from the current fee based Wi-Fi service to a longer term solution utilizing a distributed antenna system which requires time to implement.
A competitive bidding process will have to be undertaken and require a significant investment in infrastructure by the winning bidder.
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