GRAND RAPIDS ? Michigan?s airports are moving quickly to meet the wireless needs of not only the traveling public, but also the airport?s tenants – airlines, cargo carriers and rental car companies. But the installation of Wi-Fi technology at airports is not as simple as creating your local Internet caf�.
The reason is that airports are complex multi-user, multi-purpose facilities. The public face of airport Wi-Fi is the hot spot at the food court or business center catering to the traveling public. Behind-the-scenes, Wi-Fi is the private applications used by the airlines and other airport partners.
For example, wireless communication and data transfer may be used to re-ticket passengers at locations remote from the wired ticket counters, preferred airline customer lounges, track baggage, check rental cars in and out, and so on. The public and private demands for Wi-Fi create complex problems with limited bandwidth, potential for radio frequency interference, customer service issues, network management and cost.
Lansing?s Capital City Airport was the first airport in Michigan to offer Wi Fi and it is free in the second-floor business and conference center. Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City has also installed a daily-fee connection as has the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International Airport is implementing a fee-based system, while the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids is concluding its IT Master Plan and will implement Wi-Fi soon.
Airport Wi-Fi usually fits into one of three models.
For Profit Public Access. The airport contracts with an outside provider on a concession basis. The provider usually charges users on a daily fee basis. Network deployment, management and customer service are also provided. It is not intended to meet the private needs of airlines or tenants who are generally left to implement their own, separate systems.
Free Public Access. The airport pays for the installation of the network and provides free public access as a customer service. The airport either manages the system itself or pays for a system provider to do it. Again, the private needs of airport tenants are generally not provided and they are left to implement their own systems.
Integrated System. The airport contracts for the installation of an integrated system throughout the airport for both public and private use. This model generally results in the most efficient use of the available frequency and diminishes incompatibilities and interference among users. Tenants and airlines pay for service as they would for a pass-through utility cost. Typically, the public also pays a fee to use Wi-Fi. For obvious reasons, airport tenants do not prefer this approach.
The answer to these four questions will dictate the approach an airport will take: Who is going to use it, who is going to pay for it, who is going to control it and who is going to manage it?
Robert A. Buchanan is a Shareholder/Director at Law, Weathers & Richardson, P.C., a full-service law firm in Grand Rapids. Bob is counsel to the Gerald R. Ford International Airport and is an associate member of the Michigan Association of Airport Executives.
