What is World Wi-Fi Day?

This past Monday, June 20, we celebrated World Wi-Fi Day, but what exactly is it, and where did it come from?

World Wi-Fi Day is a global event orchestrated by the Wireless Broadband Alliance. It shines a light on the many communities and cities worldwide that remain without Wi-Fi access. Wi-Fi is a vital service that keeps economies moving. By working to address the digital divide, The WBA hopes to bring governments and companies together to close the gap.

Why is Access to Wi-Fi Important?

The advancement of Wi-Fi has improved the quality of everyday life. Although people have operated without Wi-Fi for decades, almost everything has shifted to online spaces. Including media, banking, shopping, and much more. Now, people need reliable access to the internet to do their jobs, attend school, or work on homework. Without access to the internet, people’s ability to learn, grow, and thrive is extremely limited. Only 55% of households worldwide have internet, while 80% of households in many developing nations do not have internet access.

Wi-Fi is often seen as a luxury when it should be treated as a commodity to be easily accessible. It can have tremendous social, economic, and environmental impacts. During the Covid pandemic, the reliance on global Wi-Fi increased. Subsequently, people shifted to working from home, doctors’ appointments were held digitally, and online schooling became the only way children could receive an education safely. More importantly, it casts a light on those without convenient access to Wi-Fi and their challenges.

While governments and corporations created initiatives to help connect people worldwide by providing free services and devices, these initiatives provided temporary relief. The HOPE for Connectivity, organized by the Wireless Broadband Alliance under the leadership of the Connected City Advisory Board, aims to connect local government, vendors, the internet, and tech companies in extending these efforts.

HOPE for Connectivity How to Get Involved

The HOPE for Connectivity calls for action from local government and industry leaders to recognize and celebrate Wi-Fi’s role in advancing our society. The goal is to accelerate the availability of affordable connectivity for those who remain unconnected. Furthermore, there are four critical themes rooted in the WBA’s vision for World Wi-Fi Day:

  • Help: funding Wi-Fi deployments to connect the unconnected communities
  • Offer: affordable Wi-Fi access in both rural and urban areas
  • Promote: how Wi-Fi has been successful in connecting cities and communities
  • Engage: and address the role of Wi-Fi in the digital divide

The first World Wi-Fi Day was held on June 20, 2016, and continues to gain popularity each year. Additionally, World Wi-Fi day is working to create several activities for stakeholders to get more involved and support their initiative. This is based on their expertise. However, getting involved can be as simple as raising awareness and calling upon the local government and tech companies to help do their part to close the gap in the digital divide. If companies worked together to offer affordable Wi-Fi service and equipment, they could help close the gap and connect communities in need of innovation.

Wi-Fi is a significant contributor to the success of the global economy. Providing access to those who remain unconnected can ensure people can live high-quality lives. Therefore, on World Wi-Fi Day, bring awareness and help close the gap where you can.

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Custom Splash Page Builder

A custom splash page helps give a captive portal the branded look it needs to stand out from the crowd and give guests the peace of mind they’re accessing the network associated with the venue they’re visiting.

WiFi Payments and Vouchers

Offer premium guest WiFi access and promote WiFi upgrades with comprehensive payment and voucher modules. Payments can be used to offer guests varying speeds of WiFi access, while vouchers are great for venues that want to utilize a captive portal that also requires a voucher code for WiFi access.
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Guest Plans

Venues can now offer multiple levels of guest WiFi access with our Guest Plan feature. Guest Plans are defined by specific upload and download speeds and session time limits. Brick-and-mortar businesses can offer guest WiFi access and promote WiFi upgrades with our new payment and voucher modules.

Versatile Form Builder

Create and display custom guest surveys on any splash page of your guest flow. Collect feedback and gather additional data points to create smarter marketing.

Enhanced Guest Flow

Guest flow gives venues complete control over the guest WiFi experience. Guest flows help keep a visually pleasing captive portal experience by preventing clutter of multiple marketing assets. Keep it simple, or turn your WiFi into a digital billboard.
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Integrated Ad Spaces

Ad Space Integrations is a powerful feature for venues who want to promote products, deals and specials, online shopping, loyalty programs and other signups, or third-party advertisers all on a pre-authenticated Splash Page.

Increase impressions and clicks for advertising opportunities by showcasing AdSpaces before requiring a guest to connect to WiFi.

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No more will guests have to wait to connect to WiFi to reach interactive ads. Ad Space Integrations takes Ads4WiFi smart advertising tools and places it our smart marketing environment powered by Marketing4WiFi.

Hotspot Scheduler

Determine the specific days and times that WiFi is available to guests. Hotspot Scheduler offers smarter WiFi control by allowing venues to run their guest WiFi during business hours.