News

New network enables kiosks, offers convenience to air travelers

September 19, 2004

Warwick, R.I., and Killeen, Texas -- ICOA Inc. and the city of Killeen unveiled a new neutral-host high-speed broadband wireless network throughout the entire Killeen-Ft. Hood Regional Airport (GRK), serving GRK's passengers as well as airlines and other airport tenants.

The new network offers passengers at GRK secure, affordable and convenient wireless Internet access from anywhere in the terminal and will provide WLAN services for airport administration and operations functions, airlines and airport concessionaires.

The launch also included the installation of public access Internet kiosks, allowing passengers without Wi-Fi enabled devices such as laptops or PDAs to conveniently access the Internet, their corporate servers and email.

With the GRK deployment, ICOA's Airport Network Solutions subsidiary now serves more than 20 million airport passengers annually through airport-wide neutral-host Wi-Fi networks also located in the Greater Baton Rouge Louisiana, Manchester Airport, Savannah/Hilton Head International, Fresno-Yosemite International, Spokane International and Sacramento International airports.

Passengers with Wi-Fi enabled laptops or PDAs can connect to the Internet for $6.95 per day. Airport information such as flight schedules, ground transportation information, passenger services and security bulletins can be accessed at no charge.

The new public wireless Internet service is available throughout the entire terminal and does not require users to install or use proprietary software. As a neutral-host network, the Killeen-Ft. Hood Regional Airport/ICOA solution will also allow subscribers of branded services, such as iPass and Boingo, access to the network., "Our airport-wide approach makes it more convenient for passengers to connect instantly in all public areas of the airport rather than having to 'sniff out' limited hotspots, and allows the airport authority to securely and cost-effectively offer and manage WLAN services to all tenants," said ICOA executive vice president Rick Schiffmann.