Digital News South Africa

Satellite HotSpots provide affordable internet

Maxwell Technology, one of Africa's leading satellite-based communications and data solution providers, has launched its satellite HotSpot solution, aimed at lodges, guesthouses, bed & breakfasts, conference centres, internet cafés or any other public facilities that require internet access for their customers.

The offering for public facilities requires voucher or token-based WiFi internet access for guests and, with a very small investment, it also offers entrepreneurs or small business start-ups an opportunity to open an internet café.

Satellite HotSpots provide affordable internet

Secure internet connection

Maxwell technical director Kallie Carlsen says in the hospitality industry, reliable internet affects the rating or star grading and it also has a direct impact on occupancy. "This provides internet access to users via a WiFi router that is installed at a single point within the facility. A highly reliable internet connection is provided via a VSAT terminal, which provides users with up to 512 Kbps upload and up to 4096 Kbps download speed."

The service also offers customers new revenue generating opportunities that will add to their current revenue streams. There are no monthly subscription fees or fixed monthly operational charges, customers merely generate vouchers to resell to their customers.

Vouchers can be issued in half or full hour access denominations with two different kinds of vouchers. Fixed time vouchers provide users with uncapped access to the internet from the time of issue while multiple login vouchers provide uncapped access across multiple logins until the total time is used.

Generating vouchers

Carlsen says an integral part of the solution is the self-help service portal where administrators of the system can generate vouchers as single units, generate vouchers in batches and view the current status of issued vouchers. "No additional computer hardware or billing systems are required, customers use their existing computer infrastructure."

The equipment required for the solution includes a complete VSAT system that can either be purchased outright or the company can provide the solution at zero cost in terms of hardware and installation.

For more information call +27 (0) 12 940 0660 or go to www.maxwell.co.za.

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