Internet Service Provider Cox Communications has offered its broadband customers the chance to surf the web from nearly 150,000 Wi-Fi hotspots around the United States.
Any customer of the company’s Preferred, Premiere or Ultimate broadband packages will be able to log onto a free, wireless connection under the company’s ‘CableWiFi’ network.
Gigaom.com says this will become the country’s largest Wi-Fi network, spanning 150,000 indoor and outdoor public arenas in major cities.
Early reports say hotspots will be placed in areas of metro Washington D.C as well as in Boston, Richmond, Philadelphia, Virginia and San Francisco.
As lightreading.com reports, this is a good example of the monetization of Wi-Fi as Cox is offering customers an incentive to receive broadband from the provider.
Although Cox will have to contend with the capital expense of installing Wi-Fi access points and also deal with the issue of increased network traffic, the provider seemingly believes it can recoup the cost with extra business.
All the customer need to do is log into the first access point in the network using the username and password attached to their broadband account.
The hotspot will then recognise their smartphone, tablet or laptop and keep them connected to the location for 180 days.
