Determining Your Hotel’s WiFi Bandwidth Needs, Plus How to Meet Them
Choosing a WiFi network can make or break any business; Ooma found that if sub-standard internet negatively impacts productivity by just 5%, the cost to U.S. small businesses would exceed $80 billion. With so many of their customers leveraging WiFi, hotels are even more susceptible to this trend. How can hotels build networks that both support employee productivity and keep guests satisfied?
The key is bandwidth. Read on to learn what bandwidth is, how it affects WiFi network speed, and the factors your hotel must consider when deciding on a suitable bandwidth.
- What is Bandwidth in WiFi?
- Essential WiFi Bandwidth Considerations in Hotels
- How to Increase Bandwidth of Hotel WiFi Networks
What is Bandwidth in WiFi?
WiFi bandwidth measures the maximum volume of data that can be transmitted across a network connection over a specific measurement of time — usually measured by megabits per second (Mbps).
One way to think of bandwidth is as a water pipe, with internet data as water going through that pipe. While the size of the pipe does not inherently affect the speed in which water flows through the pipe, the pipe can only allow for so much water to flow through without stopping. The same can be said for network bandwidth; functioning networks should be able to handle data flow up to the amount specified via bandwidth, but will slow down once data flow exceeds that bandwidth.
Is WiFi Bandwidth the Same as WiFi Speed?
No — internet speed refers to the speed in which data travels from the internet to a device connected to a network, while bandwidth refers to the maximum amount of data that can be transferred over a network. Although it can affect network speed when a network exceeds its bandwidth limitations, bandwidth is not a direct measurement of the speed of a network.
For example, a high-bandwidth network can have low speed if the WiFi provider only allows data to be transmitted at a level far lower than network bandwidth. Alternatively, networks with low bandwidth and high data demands may operate at a lower speed due to excessive amounts of data being transferred via a smaller “pipe.” In turn, matching network bandwidth to any given network’s unique needs is essential to maintain satisfactory speed.
How Can I Check The Bandwidth of My WiFi Network?
Even as network speed ebbs and flows, the bandwidth of your WiFi network does not change; instead, what changes is how that bandwidth is being used. You can typically check the bandwidth of your WiFi network by either contacting your provider or checking the plan outline via a service portal.
How network bandwidth is being used is a more dynamic, complicated question, especially for hotel networks. Managing bandwidth across staff, guests, and event attendees can be difficult to balance — often making the difference between soaring network success or catastrophic failure.
Essential WiFi Bandwidth Considerations in Hotels
Before implementing a WiFi network, hotels need to consider several factors to paint a clear picture of their specific bandwidth needs. Here are a few of the most important questions to ask before building a network.
How Large is the Hotel?
Perhaps the most important factor when deciding network bandwidth for a hotel is the property’s size. The larger the hotel, the more hotel guests; the more hotel guests, the more users on your hotel’s network, and the higher bandwidth necessary to support the needs of those users. Larger properties may also encompass amenities that put additional strain on WiFi networks, such as holistic in-room entertainment platforms, guest messaging platforms, or attached convention centers.
Are There Any Barriers to Hotel WiFi Design?
Beyond size, many hotels have physical barriers to implementing successful WiFi networks. WiFi signals are transmitted via radio waves. In turn, WiFi signals can be blocked by high-density areas, plus materials including copper, aluminum, and steel. Areas of hotels facing these issues may require lower bandwidth and more WiFi access points; others without such barriers may require a lower amount of access points, but higher bandwidth on each.
How Will Your Hotel Manage Bandwidth Use?
One notable variable when deciding hotel bandwidth is determining how hotel guests will leverage your network. While some guests may choose to disconnect on their vacations, demographics such as business travelers may remain on hotel networks 24/7. There’s no “one-size-fits-all” network that will work for each guest. Some hotels counter this issue by implementing tiered WiFi plans — putting the power to choose bandwidth in guest hands while increasing supplemental revenue.
Another key way to manage bandwidth is by ensuring only qualified users are on your hotel’s network. Due to their public-facing nature, hotel WiFi networks are subject to an increased risk of cyber- attacks. By implementing holistic hotel cybersecurity measures — including advanced encryption, 24/7 network monitoring, and reliable antivirus programs — hotels can better protect their bandwidth from bad actors.
How to Increase Bandwidth of Hotel WiFi Networks
The only way to increase bandwidth on a WiFi network is through changing the network infrastructure. While implementing tiered plans and limiting outside activity can open up additional bandwidth for users that need it, many hotel WiFi networks are ill-equipped for the actual bandwidth needs of their property — whether due to outdated network infrastructure, increased technological needs, or a bevy of other actors.
If your hotel needs increased bandwidth to support its userbase, consider working with an adaptable, experienced provider of hotel WiFi. When paired with a dynamic team of WiFi experts, hotels trust that their networks will always be prepared for new bandwidth needs. Many installers also provide 24/7 network monitoring — detecting and alerting hotels to potential sources of excessive bandwidth use.
Hospitality Network Builds Network for Your Specific Hotel Bandwidth Use Cases
Hospitality Network is a dedicated, experienced provider of hotel WiFi. Our team builds networks per the unique requirements of your property — conducting on-site surveys to detect dead zones and determine exactly what bandwidth is needed to support guests and employees. With 24/7 network monitoring and seamless installation, we’re the top choice for efficient, long-term hotel WiFi success. Contact us today to ensure your hotel’s bandwidth needs exceed expectations.
