Key Planning Factors for Deploying Ubiquitous Wi-Fi Networks in Hotels

The Internet has changed the way in which people work and live. Many when traveling expect to be Internet-connected at all times without being tied down to physical wires, just as in their offices and homes. Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) enables hotel guests with wireless-capable computers and devices to easily access high speed broadband networks within the coverage area. According to J.D. Power and Associates 2016 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study, the most important amenity noted by guests was free Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi, initially deployed in public spaces, is now an expected room amenity. Providing reliable and robust Wi-Fi coverage throughout a hotel requires careful implementation planning for technical as well as business-related factors. This article identifies and discusses key Wi-Fi planning factors and their implications for wireless network architecture decisions in hotel environments.