Summer day gives Wi-Fi provider Bitbuzz busiest day ever

3 Oct 2013

Irish Wi-Fi network operator Bitbuzz recorded what it said has been its busiest day ever during the traditionally quiet summer months. On 8 August, the company experienced 23,426 logins for outdoor Wi-Fi usage, which topped the 21,849 logins recorded on 25 July.

Several factors may be responsible for this increase in numbers, such as the warm weather that graced Ireland this past summer, the roll out of Bitbuzz Freedom earlier this year, and the take-up of outdoor Wi-Fi in cafés, restaurants and bars around Ireland, Bitbuzz said.

Shane Deasy, managing director of Bitbuzz, said consumers’ continual take-up of smartphone ownership has changed everything in the Wi-Fi market.

“A few years ago, there was little to no requirement for outdoor Wi-Fi. Now that people expect to stay connected at all times, it is compulsory in busy city centre locations,” Deasy said.

“Our two busiest days were very warm, people crowded to city-centre bars and restaurants, and logged on in their thousands. We believe this trend is only going to grow.”

Bitbuzz’s café and restaurant clients have also noticed more and more of their customers enquiring about using Wi-Fi outside.

“We are now finding that having an outdoor Wi-Fi offering is as important as having availability indoors, especially during the summer months,” said Vinny Mullen, general manager, Herb Street Restaurant in Grand Canal Dock Dublin.

Wi-Fi user image via Shutterstock

Tina Costanza was a journalist and sub-editor at Silicon Republic

editorial@siliconrepublic.com