Wayport
and Concourse
Communications have entered into an agreement to provide a combined private and
public Wi-Fi Internet solution at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
(MSP), which serves more than 33 million passengers a year, making it the 10th
largest airport in North America. 
Wayport and Concourse jointly provide Wi-Fi
service at New York`s LaGuardia airport as well.
 
Concourse Communications Group is managing private-side applications for
airport authorities, airlines and concessionaires.  Wayport is utilizing the
same network infrastructure to manage its own neutral host public Wi-Fi access
solution, offering daily, membership, and roaming access at the airport.
Beginning May 1, public access is available throughout the following airport
areas:

  — Concourse C (Gates C1 - C12)

  — Concourse D

  — Concourse E

  — Concourse F

  — Concourse G

  — all airline lounges

  — Northstar Crossing Concessions Area and the food court

  — Grieve Conference Center.

 
Coverage is expected to expand and include the remainder of the facility
later this year.
 
“Building on our existing relationship, Wayport and Concourse continue to
create successful Wi-Fi systems for airports, benefiting not only airports
like Minneapolis-St. Paul, but also the millions of travelers who find it
necessary to stay connected and productive while on the road,” said Dave
Vucina, CEO for Wayport.  “Increasingly we are seeing airports select a
neutral host Wi-Fi solution like the one we offer with Concourse to maximize
the number of users and roaming partners onto the network and to ensure that
travelers accustomed to using Wi-Fi have a consistent, seamless connection
experience.”
 
As a result of the agreement, travelers - including the 2 million
customers who have used Wayport`s service to date—can now gain wireless
access at MSP.  In turn, Wayport`s roaming partners, including Verizon
Wireless, AT&T Wireless, iPass, GRIC and Boingo, will have the opportunity to
provide their customers yet another critical location to gain Wi-Fi access
through Wayport`s neutral host Wi-Fi solution.
 
“Wayport and Concourse, as the leaders in airport Wi-Fi access with
service currently in seven airports between us and with Concourse`s rights to
six additional airports, bring extensive expertise in both public and private-
side Wi-Fi applications to Minneapolis-St. Paul,” said Jim Eisenstein, CEO for
Concourse.  “Wayport and Concourse`s complementary neutral-host capabilities
and history of providing service to travelers in the places they frequent most
make this an excellent connectivity solution for MSP`s airport tenants and
passengers.”

 
Related stories on ITN:

(29/04/2003) Hamilton Crowne Plaza Offers Wi-Fi by Wayport

(23/04/2003) Wayport and Palm to Promote Wi-Fi

(02/04/2003) Wayport`s eSales Team Drives Business for Hotel Partners

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