By Will Sturgeon, 16 February 2007 14:35
NEWS
More than 1,000 silicon.com readers signed our Fair Wi-Fi petition in its first week and now we're calling on even more of you to back our campaign to highlight the rip-off charges being made by UK hotels for internet access.
Feedback is pouring in as well and we're encouraging everybody to get involved and back this campaign.
One reader told us: "I don't use public wi-fi at all in the UK because I'm strongly discouraged by high rates, monthly subscriptions and single provider dominance in some places."
Another wrote: "My experience is mostly of refusing to pay the extortionate charges most hotels seem to want to charge. This does impact my ability to work but my principles simply wont allow me to pay 'silly money' for something that should be at commodity prices or a gratis 'value add'."
And that can't be good for the UK as an increasingly mobile workforce comes to rely more and more on being online in order to conduct business.
Many readers have written in to point out that the UK is certainly lagging behind the US and putting itself at a competitive disadvantage.
One reader posting a comment on the petition site wrote: "If New York hotels can avoid charging extra for wi-fi access, then why not Europe? Major European cities must follow suit. Europe needs to increase competitiveness against the US, not put up more artificial barriers to business."
Another added: "I spend a lot of time in the US. The hotels there are not going out of business through offering cheap or free wi-fi, they are using it as a means of attracting custom."
It is certainly an issue that is sparking heated debate and strong feelings. Praising silicon.com's campaign, one reader wrote: "It's about time someone had the balls to raise this issue. I now vote with my feet and make sure that where I'm staying has decent, free wi-fi. Hotels need to wise up to this fact as it is already losing them business."
Another wrote: "'Screw the Customer' appears to be the focus of the UK hotel industry in general and wi-fi charges are just another fine example of their ongoing efforts."
silicon.com's Fair Wi-fi campaign is calling for fairly priced rather than free wi-fi access - we know there is a cost incurred - at the UK's hotels.
If you haven't already given your support to this campaign, sign up now.
Comments
There are 6 comments. Join the discussion
1. Joseph Sekiku
It is true that the US has managed to offer free or really affordable wi-fi access at hotels, airports and at most public places. I know particularly of NY Wireless but also of many other free wireless networks in the US.
This is apparently not so for the UK and I think much of Europe. Whereas there is access, the cost is very exorbitant. I wondered why that is the case.
In Africa, it is even worse. Only the Airport at nairobi (Kenya) offers free wifi access. I have not know of other similar free wifi in africa. Hotels in nairobi charge very high rates for wifi access and I always questioned why this is the case.
In Tanzania, FADECO a rural telecentre is struggling to create a wireless community. In order to do this has set up a wireless link where users pay a modest fee and have unlimited access to the internet via wifi.
Hotel and public ammenity places should endeavour to offer free access because they they would gain more their users accessing more of their services.
2. anonymous
Stay clear of the Preemier Travel Lodge, Deansgate Lock, Manchester! They wanted £5 for one hour, with the time starting the moment you logged on! Bunch of rib-off merchants.
3. Jim Price
Hotels priced their telephone services out of the market, so we all use mobiles and now they are trying to do the same with wi-fi. Perhaps they just don't want the bother, but it stime they realised that travellers ARE choosing hotels that have affordable wi-fi. Others who just pop in to the foyer to get connected will almost invariably buy a drink and a sandwich if they are not getting ripped off for wi-fi. I needed to get connected last week and went into a hotel in France, I was quoted 10 Euros for two hours - or free if I bought a drink at the bar - surely a no-brainer!
4. anonymous
Anyone who thinks that US Hotel chains or coffee bars don't charge for WiFi use is incredibly naive.
Of course they charge, they just add it on to the cost of a latte or the room rate. That way everyone pays extra, whether they actually use the service or not.
5. Rational Economic Man
Don't be absurd! OK, the cost is factored in, but the 'premium' required to cover the cost of WiFi access is minimal. In fact, the economies of scale introduced by the increased customer base provided by the draw of cheap WiFi access would probably more than recoup for the outlay.
6. Brenda Frame
Our group www.townhousehotels.co.uk and www.clarendonhoteledi.com, consisting of 4 city centre hotels and set of 8 self-catering apartments have been pro-active in promoting free Wi-fi to all our guests since the Autumn of 2006.
We appreciate the needs and requirements of both the business and leisure traveller, and are happy to offer this service as part of our hospitality.
Since Scottish weather can be unpredictable to say the least, rather than trudging a mile up the road, people can check their flights, contact their friends by email (this keeps the teenagers happy too e.g., MSN etc!).
In all, we end up with satisfied customers, who often become regular visitors, especially corporate users.