FAAN partners Globacom to launch Wi-Fi at all Airports

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, has partnered Nigeria’s multinational telecommunications company, Globacom Ltd, to launch a nationwide Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) facility across all the airports in the country.

The facility will enable passengers waiting at airports and other airport users to connect to the internet through their smart phones, tablets, laptops and other smart devices.

At the launch of the facility at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, the Managing Director of FAAN, Mr. Saleh Dunoma, said the launch was a realization of the Aviation Ministry’s commitment to improve passenger experience in the country.

He said one of the numerous complaints the authority had encountered was lack of internet connectivity at the airports and urged Globacom to extend the Wi-Fi coverage of to the new buildings under construction at the airport any time they are ready. In his remarks, Glo’s coordinator, business solutions, Mr. Ike Oraekwuotu, expressed the company’s delight to “bring Nigeria up to speed with one of the best trends in the aviation industry worldwide by introducing ultra high speed Wi-Fi data experience for travellers and other users of our airports, beginning with Nigeria’s flagship airport.”

“Millions of Nigerians who use and international travellers who use the 26 airports operated by FAAN deserve a super fast and reliable internet connectivity to stay in touch with loved ones and transact their businesses even while on transit. That is the state of the aviation industry in many of the advanced countries today. Travellers waiting at airports for their flights are able to hook up to the internet using airport Wi-Fi facilities in order to maintain contact with their loved ones, colleagues, friends and business associates.

Airport Wi-Fi facilities have proven to be a very useful resource for cutting back on the billions of unproductive man hours spent by travellers, especially business travellers, waiting for flights at airports across the world,” he added.

He further revealed that the facility, which would be available at both the domestic and the international wings of the Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt airports was made possible by the great vision and passion demonstrated by the ministry of aviation and FAAN “working diligently with Globacom.”

He also said the second phase of the project would cover 12 airports across the country adding that “Globacom is working hard to ensure that this is delivered in the next 10 weeks.”

Also speaking, Globacom’s regional chief marketing officer, Mr. Ashok Israni, said all passengers using the airport irrespective of the network they are on would be able to connect to the facility.

“They will subsequently be directed to a subscription page where they will be able to buy a Wi-Fi data plan through three options. The options include using an existing data plan the subscriber has with Globacom, or by recharging their line through a Glo recharge card available at the Glo kiosks at the airport, or by paying for the Wi-Fi plan through a credit card.

“Whichever option a subscriber goes for, they are ushered into a world of reliable, ultra-fast internet so that they can keep in touch with their relatives, friends, colleagues and associates regardless of whether they are connected to a mobile network or not,” he said.

He also said users could access the internet at the speed of as much as 100 megabits per second anywhere around the airport, including the departure, arrival, and executive lounges; ticketing and waiting areas as well as passengers’ welcoming lobby.

Vanguard