Metro Airport Picks Advanced Wireless Group To Expand Free Wi-Fi, DAS Service
ROMULUS -- Miami, Fla.-based Advanced Wireless Group LLC, which designs, integrates and operates large venue public wireless networks, has been selected by Wayne County Airport Authority, operator of Detroit Metropolitan Airport, to enhance the airport's free wireless connectivity to travelers.
Through this new partnership, DTW will expand its existing, free Wi-Fi service to allow airport customers unlimited access at higher speeds beginning this fall.
"A key goal in competitively bidding and awarding this contract is to improve the quality of the complimentary Wi-Fi service which has been available at Detroit Metropolitan Airport since last September," said WCAA CEO Tom Naughton. "We believe our customers will be very pleased with the higher network speed and unlimited complimentary Wi-Fi which will soon be available."
To meet the needs of the airport's passengers, tenants, and operations, AWG was selected to operate, manage and maintain three related service components -- Wi-Fi network and services, cellular distributed antenna systems and services, and managed cabling infrastructure and services.
"As the mobile landscape continues to explode, we've seen demand for wireless broadband grow at astounding rates, which we fully expect that trend to continue," said Scott Phillips, CEO of AWG. "The continued network expansion and cross platform integration of Wi-Fi and DAS technologies at DTW will increase the reliability of both voice and data connections on Detroit Metro's network while enhancing mobile broadband speeds."
AWG has rounded out the team at Detroit Metropolitan Airport with Crown Castle Solutions Corp., which will manage Cellular/DAS, andwhile Black Box Network Services, which will manage the airport's Cabling Services.
Once the transition to AWG's infrastructure is complete in fall 2013, airport customers will be able to connect throughout both passenger terminals at no cost upon viewing a 30-second advertisement not more than once every 45 minutes. This sponsor-supported model enables the airport to offer unlimited, enhanced Internet access at no cost to travelers while continuing to ensure the network can support growth in demand without loss of service quality.
Under the terms of this contract, AWG will operate, manage and maintain DTW's Wi-Fi and DAS and structured wiring infrastructure for five years with the option of three additional, two-year terms.
Founded in 2004, Advanced Wireless Group is the largest operator of free and sponsored public Wi-Fi in U.S. airports today, and the industry pioneer of the Hybrid public Wi-Fi access solution. The company specializes in wireless network design, integration, management and monetization in airports and other large venues. For more information on AWG, please visit www.awgwifi.com.
Having welcomed more than 32 million passengers in 2012, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is Michigan's busiest airport and one of the world's leading air transportation hubs. With service from 11 scheduled passenger airlines and three scheduled cargo carriers, DTW offers more than 1,100 flights per day to and from nearly 150 destinations on four continents. In 2010, DTW ranked highest in overall customer satisfaction among large airports in the J.D. Power and Associates North America Airport Satisfaction Study.
With two new passenger terminals, six jet runways, and an onsite AAA Four-Diamond Westin hotel, DTW is among the world's most efficient, customer friendly and operationally capable airports in North America. DTW is operated by Wayne County Airport Authority, which also operates nearby Willow Run Airport -- an important corporate, cargo and general aviation facility. The Airport Authority is entirely self-sustaining and does not receive any tax dollars to support airport operations. For more information about Metro Detroit's airports, visit www.metroairport.com.
