DETROIT ? Travelers passing through Detroit Metropolitan Airport this fall will be able to connect to the Internet wirelessly at no cost, thanks to a decision Wednesday by the Wayne County Airport Authority Board.
The board approved an agreement with the Los Angeles, Calif.-based airport technology provider Boingo Wireless Inc. that will enable the airport to offer a two-tiered internet access service model, providing both an ad-supported basic level and a paid, premium-level Internet connection option to travelers.
?Free wi-fi in the terminals is by far the most requested amenity by our customers,? said WCAA interim CEO Tom Naughton. ?This new, two-tiered approach will provide an ad-supported access option for casual Internet users, while still enabling power users who are willing to pay for premium access to do so.?
Under the new service model, Boingo will introduce a new option for travelers to connect to the airport?s wireless network for 30 minutes at no cost upon viewing a 30-second video advertisement. Users who require an extended or high-speed connection will continue to have the option to connect via one of Boingo?s existing service plans.
Because the launch of a no-cost option is estimated to more than triple the demand on the airport?s wireless infrastructure, the agreement approved by the WCAA Board includes significant network equipment upgrades. Upgrade work will begin immediately, enabling the new, ad-supported service tier to launch by September.
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