Owners of guest lodges, Airbnb, and other types of lodging are preparing for the busy season and need to be able to provide a great WiFi experience for their guests. Vivica CEO Jacques du Toit said it was increasingly clear globally that modern customers wanted seamless connectivity, and this was well reflected in online ratings. It added that the surge in inquiries means this trend is also reflected in South Africa.
“It’s important to define what a good WiFi experience is,” says Du Toit. “This means complete coverage, a simple experience accessing WiFI, unlimited access with no caps, and lastly backup power during load shedding.
“Guests should be able to walk in and connect without a password, have unlimited data usage, and have no restrictions or restrictions on what they can do online. In other words, they should be able to stream Netflix all night or use their mobile phone to If you want to do things like run software updates, you need to be able to do that.”
“Previously, this kind of connectivity was either impossible or too expensive, which is why some guesthouses still don’t have this kind of WiFi capability,” says Du Toit. “There are still guesthouses that offer passwords that need to be updated once you exceed your data limit, which is a big red flag for digitally savvy consumers. FTTB) packages offer full, uncapped high-speed service at a similar cost to traditional fiber optic (FTTH) packages. There’s no reason why holiday accommodation can’t move with the times,” he added. Ta.
Having a good internet package is important, but guesthouses should invest in backups. “The reality is that if you don’t shed loads, you can end up with unexpected power outages,” explains Du Toit. “ISPs offer small, Internet-only UPS systems that guarantee uninterrupted connectivity. More people need to know about these, and they are a basic requirement for any establishment that welcomes guests,” he said. I’m sure Vox understands.”
Du Toit says there is a clear need to educate small business owners, such as guest accommodation owners and managers, about how WiFi works, as simple changes can radically overhaul the connectivity experience. It states that. “When users switch to Vox, we often see situations where they upgrade to the highest speed package available but are not encouraged to upgrade their access point. It just prevents you from having a good WiFi experience,” he says. WiFi access points should be replaced at least every two years. You should also ensure that your software is updated regularly to ensure optimal performance and the latest security measures.
Additionally, not enough people understand the difference between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi networks. “Most people will notice that they have two options when they first turn on their router. These are not negligible. It is important to choose the right frequency for the right purpose. 2.4 GHz has a longer range and can penetrate walls and rooms, but it can cause more interference and lower throughput. 5 GHz, on the other hand, offers faster speeds but a much shorter range,” explains Du Toit.
People often buy WiFi extenders when they realize this, or when they have dead spots at work or home, but Du Toit says this doesn’t work the way people expect it to, so it’s not the best choice. It says it’s not a perfect solution. “Rather, customers should be educated about wireless mesh networks. Places like Vox allow you to rent mesh devices for a very small monthly fee, but the WiFi experience has been vastly improved,” he said. Toit said.
“Rather than relying on a single Wi-Fi device, such as a traditional router, a mesh Wi-Fi environment involves strategically placing multiple access points throughout your home or office. These access points work together. The benefit is that your device seamlessly connects to the access point with the best signal, ensuring a stable Internet connection, even when you’re on the move. ”
Du Toit says it can be set up one-time, and businesses that value a great WiFi experience for their customers and guests can rely on Vox to get managed WiFi. “Managed Wi-Fi allows businesses to move away from the complexity and over-reliance on Wi-Fi architectures that are not ideally suited to the unique needs of each location. It means you benefit from hands-on convenience and support within a performance-optimized ecosystem,” he concluded.
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