GoZone WiFi, a software company that delivers marketing, analytics and display advertising, is working with CommScope to provide Wi-Fi to outdoor venues, including campgrounds, RV parks, marinas and state and national parks.
The managers of the venues can offer consumers a variety of options to access the Wi-Fi, including free access, voucher-based subscriptions or paid subscriptions.
For example, guests who log into GoZone’s captive portal may receive special deals or be encouraged to engage with promotions via social media. Operators and venues may use the service to increase revenues or obtain access to data for enhanced marketing campaigns.
CommScope will provide its Ruckus Cloudpath security and policy management platform. The platform will assign a digital certificate to each guest, and once authorized, users don’t have to re-enter credentials.
The collaboration addresses operational challenges faced by public venues that offer free Wi-Fi such as password management, security and data usage caps.
For instance, in a convention center venue, an exhibitor might pay for a connection to the GoZone and CommScope Wi-Fi-enabled devices where before a tech team would need to manage the connection options.
Digital nomads
The companies say their offering is timely because a lot of people are traveling and working remotely. These digital nomads need a good internet connection wherever they are.
“We’re seeing a surge of visitors returning to outdoor recreational spaces and public venues,” said Todd Myers, CEO of GoZone WiFi.
In fact, at least one private wireless provider — Freedom Fi — is already providing its services to national parks.
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Myers stressed that GoZone is not a network operator.
But in terms of competing with services such as private wireless over CBRS, he said, “Wi-Fi networks are much less expensive and easier to manage over CBRS, so, since the feature will make it more easy to accommodate self-management of 'headless devices' it could be seen as competitive, but, we feel it more complimentary.”