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July 05, 2003

Why so much?

Massport, the state agency that runs Logan Airport, is going to spend $1.5M wifi-ing three terminals of the airport. From the article in the Globe, it sounds like this will be pay-per-hour for airport passengers. (I read the article quickly so I may have gotten this wrong.)

Why does it cost so much to do wifi the terminals?


Glenn "Where's the Wire" Fleishman answers the question.

Posted by D. Weinberger at July 5, 2003 12:45 PM


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» Massport Hunts for Logan Contractor from Wi-Fi Networking News
Massachusetts port authority Massport expects $2.5M to unwire Logan International AirPort: Although the article focuses on Wi-Fi, it's almost certain that the "other wireless" is cellular. As Dick Snyder of Concourse Communications noted when speaking ... [Read More]

Tracked on July 5, 2003 02:54 PM

» WiFi-ing an Airport from Das E-Business Weblog
David Weinberger berichtet, dass Logan Airport, der Flughafen von Boston (übrigens ein elender Ort. Nach neun Uhr Abends kriegt man nichts mehr zu Essen und ab 21.15 Uhr ist man... [Read More]

Tracked on July 6, 2003 09:18 AM

Comments

My former landlord wirelessed (? I was going to say wired) the entire apartment complex - two storey, half a city block in downtown Austin - a couple of years back using a consumer level router and a bunch of leaky coax (his second attempt after stringing cat-5 across the street and installing a wide angle antenna on the roof of the building opposite). I know he didn't drop 1.5mil and I know he was abusing the TOS for his dsl.

Still with a T1 at about $600/mo now and consumer level routers running sub $100 I can't say I understand it either.

I think wifi implementation and consulting must be a lucrative gig. Actually, the same guy started a wifi implementation and consulting company!

Posted by: Tim Harding | July 5, 2003 01:01 PM


Okay, so real costs are likely to be the - no doubt custom -sign up/billing/credit card processing system that is tied into the ERP and accounting system, the programmers required to implement the custom connectors, the centralized command and control applications, expensive packet shaping infrastructure (I mean you've gotta have that, right?) and the dudes you pay $$$ to monitor and keep the system running 24x7. I'm sure they're not putting in Linksys home routers either.

Now, I know that there is some feeling that if you're going to do something do it right - that's what the consultants want - buy why not string up a really cheap, open and mostly not broken system for a few grand. Build up some demand for the service by making it free?

I'd also like to see the airlines offering wifi at the gate. You know, that's something I would spend my frequent flyer miles on.

Posted by: Tim Harding | July 5, 2003 01:22 PM


Read my blog entry on this, Mr. W. at wifinetnews.com (Thanks for the tip!)

Posted by: Glenn Fleishman | July 5, 2003 02:49 PM


I'm interested in WiFi, and would like info about how to implement it in my area.

Im located in the South Texas border, and intend to enter the niche for a city in the north part of Mexico. (Currently the only internet services for the area are
dial-up, ADSL and cable based internet.

Could someone help me with this?

Thanks I will really appreciate your time.

By the way my cel. is (956) 459-3956.

Adolfo A. Balderas

Posted by: Adolfo A. Balderas | December 7, 2003 04:24 PM


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