Hotspot providers

Zico

Zico

Zico

Soldato
Joined
15 Jan 2003
Posts
4,954
Location
South East
My father owns a small restaurant that will be undergoing a revamp soon.

As part of the revamp, my father wants to offer WiFi to his customers (either free or nominal charge - TBD).

The restaurant only has a voice service for now (XLN Telecom) so I am looking for providers who offer a broadband connection plus (or separate) managed WiFi hotspot service.

I'm focused on finding a suitable managed/supported WiFi hotspot service as my father’s PC skills are very limited (can browse the Web and open/read emails - doesn't compose his own) and I work full time elsewhere (so really don't want to be taking support calls from my father when I am at work - or even when I am off work for that matter).

The only providers that spring to mind currently are:

BT Openzone - offer both the Broadband connection through BT Business Broadband + Openzone service

The Cloud - Not exactly sure on The Cloud. My quick glance across the website doesn't give me much to go on, no prices that I can see without emailing them (which I will be doing)

If there are any other options that people know of, I would appreciate the help.

**Edit**
The restaurant is in Canterbury on St Peters Street and directly opposite the junction with The Friars. The exchange is just around the corner.
http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange/NDCAN
 
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I can't make any specific recommendations, but you are right to be looking at using a managed service. The compliance and liability issues make any DIY solution a nonstarter for most situations.
 
bremen1874 said:
I can't make any specific recommendations, but you are right to be looking at using a managed service. The compliance and liability issues make any DIY solution a nonstarter for most situations.
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I'm still likely to end up helping out with the odd thing here or there.

I've also explained to my father the bigger picture of offering internet to Joe Public and why he really needs to get a managed service or nothing at all.
 
I would have thought that the btopenzone way would be easiest as BT surely have the legal side covered...if it's available on the business package. However it is still a mess these days...
 
3dcandy said:
I would have thought that the btopenzone way would be easiest as BT surely have the legal side covered...if it's available on the business package. However it is still a mess these days...
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I've emailed both The Cloud and BT Openzone tonight and will await there responses.

Can you expand on your comment about it being 'a mess'?
 
the legalities of offering free broadband...what if a customer is downloading porn/illegal content for example. Very grey area
 
3dcandy said:
the legalities of offering free broadband...what if a customer is downloading porn/illegal content for example. Very grey area
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Offering free broadband does not mean that it will be un-filtered/un-restricted. My whole reason for asking about hotspot providers is for me to find a suitable managed service which takes into account the whole point of offering a public Wi-Fi service.

I'm not looking to go with a DIY setup which will leave me having to account for all the possible issues of running such a service.
 
Heard back from the cloud. Typing this while piggy backing on the cloud hotspot next door :).

£200 setup costs
£35pm managed fees
3 year minimum term

It's more than I expected, didn't expect the 3 year contract.

Not heard back from BT Openzone yet.
 
Don't you have to not worry about this any more with the DAE act, iirc all you have to do is register as a communications provider and you won't have any liability.
 
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