WiFi usage surges; operators join in
Wifi is set to grow as an increasing number of both consumer and business users are demanding ever more mobile bandwidth for the usage of data consuming applications. Even though mobile operators are investing heavily in their own 3G-networks as well as upgrading to faster 4G-networks, capacity problems remain. To solve them, WiFi proves itself as an important technology for offloading traffic. The WiFi family is growing, adding higher speeds and better connectivity. Initially, mobile operators relied predominantly on third-party WiFi providers, but it seems that a growing number of mobile operators are taking matters into their own hands by building their own WiFi-networks.
According to the Telecompaper Consumer Panel, a quarter of the Dutch consumers make use of WiFi outside the home, mostly via free access. Males use it more frequently than females and younger consumers also access internet through WiFi more often than the somewhat older consumers. Among those who use WiFi outside the home, not many use it frequently. A third or more does not even use it at least once a month. There appears to be a difference in WiFi usage between the users of the different providers, however, this difference is more likely to be allocated to the average age of the customer base of these providers than the effect of the provider itself. Lastly, the panel shows that WiFi at home is widely used; 80 percent of the laptop and notebook users use it.
