Thanks to being in Dallas last week for the Juniper Networks Enterprise Analyst & Influencer Summit, I can attest the Wi-Fi and wireless services made available to travelers at the Dallas Fort Worth Airport is at best, hit and miss. Some users got connected, while others had to bypass the airport provided services and connect their laptop and tablet with their wireless phone just so they could check email and get web access.
So, when I read about this agreement between the Dallas Fort Worth Airport and AT&T about upgrading their Wi-Fi and wireless services, I was thrilled for all travelers that use that airport.
There are many steps to this journey. So, we will just have to wait and see if they do a good job.
You see, this is not just a DFW problem, but every airport in the country needs to continually upgrade their wireless connection. After all, technology advances, year after year and these private wireless networks don’t typically do a great job of keeping up.
Juniper Networks Enterprise Analyst & Influencer Summit held in Dallas
As someone who travels quite a bit over many years to attend company briefings, summits, conferences and meetings of one kind or another, I get to experience wireless and Wi-Fi services on a wide range of airports, airplanes, hotels, conference centers, ballparks and so on.
Only a very few of these locations would I rank as terrific. Most are only so-so. And too many have real problems.
This is what needs to be fixed. Remember, wireless is fluid. That means it is always changing. Always upgrading. Always getting better and faster. That means it always needs to be maintained and upgraded.
This is the weak link of many private wireless networks.
In fact, there are a wide range of experiences users face depending on their location, network configuration, the carrier or service provider used, the smartphone, tablet or laptop they use, plus any software they have running on their system like anti-virus or VPN.
Enterprises must upgrade Wi-Fi and wireless communications for users
As a nation, we need to bring basic communications networks up to speed at various enterprises like airports, from coast to coast.
You see, the wireless and Wi-Fi world is continually changing with new technologies like AI, Chatbot, the cloud, IoT and so much more.
That is why I applaud DFW for recognizing their weak links and working with AT&T to strengthen them.
Hopefully, when it is all done, every traveler will have the ability to quickly log on, get service and do business.
DFW should be applauded working to improve wireless, Wi-Fi services
However, this a big challenge. You see, there are countless travelers going through DFW every day of the year. That means there are countless different scenarios which all need to be understood and strengthened.
And each user’s smartphone, tablet and laptop has its own, individual requirements. That’s why services typically work better with some travelers and devices than others.
Androids, iPhones, iPads, tablets and more from different manufactures are one challenge. The wireless services they use are generally one of the big three major networks in the United States including AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. That’s another challenge.
But wait, there’s more. Other challenges come from the software and applications being used on these devices.
Example, VPN or Virtual Private Networks are helpful services many users have for protection. This makes their signal invisible on unsecure public wireless and Wi-Fi networks.
While this protects users from being spied on, often this also prevents users from getting connected to certain wireless services.
Given the choice, users will simply not want to turn the VPN off just to connect to a public network where they will then be at risk.
Improving wireless and Wi-Fi user experiences at DFW airport
So, while there may be no problem connecting at a local Starbucks, hotel or convention center, often there are problems at airports and on airplanes.
While airplane systems are not the responsibility of the airport, this must be improved as well by each airline.
Delta recently started using T-Mobile to offer wireless and wi-fi on their aircraft. However, that does not work when a flyer is using VPN for protection.
This sours the flying experience, and the customer blames the airline.
Delta uses T-Mobile to offer Wi-Fi and wireless when in air
In this case, neither Delta nor T-Mobile have thought about a solution to this problem which many users face.
However, this problem can be solved. After all, it is solved at Starbucks, hotel rooms and much more.
So, this should not be a problem for Delta or T-Mobile. And since Delta is one of the best airlines in the business, this service at other airlines could even be worse.
This unavailability makes users angry. They blame the airline. So, there is much incentive for Delta and every airline to solve the problem and get this right.
Remember, the attempt is not good enough. They must deliver for every user.
That’s why I love the idea that DFW airport understands the weak wireless and Wi-Fi links in their otherwise strong story and are working to strengthen them.
It’s good for the flyer and good for the DFW brand.
DFW Airport must get it right and fix their Wi-Fi and wireless problems
I like the idea of DFW and AT&T working together to find, isolate and solve the problem.
All that being said, after having problems with the Delta system, let’s reserve judgement on the final product at DFW Airport until we get the chance to test it in real life.
Will it work like when people use VPN service like at Starbucks? Or will there be problems like on the Delta flight which uses T-Mobile?
Now, we wait to see. The bottom line is the wireless and Wi-Fi world is a continually changing space. That makes it very difficult for a company to continually deliver a good quality experience to users.
Qualcomm, Betacom, NTT, HPE, Cisco, Cradlepoint, Nokia, Intel, Celona
In fact, this situation was the topic of the Juniper Networks event I attended this week.
Juniper held part of their summit at the University of Texas at Dallas. Like Delta Airlines, this university is also updating and improving the user experience. We took a campus tour where they pointed out the behind-the-scenes technology.
In addition, there are many other vendors DFW could choose from including Verizon, T-Mobile, Qualcomm, Betacom, NTT, HPE, Cisco, Ericsson, Cradlepoint Nokia, Intel, Celona, Samsung and countless others who build networks and use chipsets in smartphones, tablets and other gear.
Since DFW airport is a case with similar challenges, hopefully they will achieve similar, good results.
What we saw was amazing, even breathtaking. I only hope the results at DFW will be as strong and positive as the University of Texas at Dallas from the user perspective. We will see.
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