MWeb Nigeria has just launched a new product called Business Wi-Fi that will allow huge companies and small businesses like hotels, restaurants, etc to attract new customers and keep their existing customers loyal.

Business Wi-Fi is a commercial Wi-Fi hotspot that allows you to setup and run an Internet cafe on your premises. Customers can browse the internet, check emails or even access document on their corporate network from the convenience and comfort of your venue.

What are the features?

Customized login Pages - The service provides you with your own unique hotspot login page, which can be designed according to your needs. If need be, iWayAfrica Nigeria can help you design and implement your own login page that fits with your brand personality.

Free Access to internet sites - The walled garden facility allows you to set free internet sites which customers have access to. This feature is completely at your discretion.

Redirect facility - You are able to redirect all users, with their first logon, to a website or online community of your choice. Should you not have a website, iWayAfrica Nigeria can help you design and develop your website for a nominal fee.

Faster Internet connection - You can choose an iWayAfrica broadband connection that suits your business needs. IWayAfrica Nigeria Ltd has a broadband solution tailor made for your business in terms of guaranteed speed, quality of service and price.

Pre-timed Vouchers at your rates - You get predefined time and usage limited vouchers in electronic format, unbranded or branded, so you can decide on the retail price of the vouchers allowing you full control over profit margins.

Provision hotspots with plug ‘n’ play ease - The service comes pre-configured with software already loaded on the access point, which means the hotspot can be installed and configured within minutes.

Business Wi-Fi Security - The service is compatible with many Virtual Private Network (VPN) solutions that provide secure access to your business applications.

What are the benefits?

- The Business Wi-Fi service will let you earn additional revenue for your business for very little cost, selling casual Internet access to guests and visitors.

- Extend your relationship with your customers and make your business more attractive to your markets.

- Your customized login page can be used to run ads and promotions, add 3rd party company adverts or links via your login page and earn advertising revenue.

- Use the same broadband internet connection to operate and run your commercial hotspot solution along with your business broadband network simultaneously.

What are the packages?

Business Wi-Fi MAX: This package is typically designed for large establishments that will have many concurrent users with a large Wi-Fi installation. It offers a flexible hardware financing plan to ensure low start-up costs. In addition you can decide on the retail price of the Wi-Fi vouchers, allowing you to have full control over the margin on the vouchers sold. You will also receive discounts on the annual hotspot subscription fee.

Business Wi-Fi FLEX: This is designed for smaller establishments e.g. B&B’s, cafe’s and guesthouses where there is a small number of concurrent users on a hotspot at any given time. The biggest advantage of this is that the cost of the hotspot vouchers are highly discounted, however you are required to pay for all hardware as well as the annual hotspot subscription fee.

My Opinion

No doubt, this is a great way for businesses to maximise their existence by providing value-added services to their customers. I think it’ll also help them build a relationship with their existing customers and further attract more customers. For users, it would be a new and interesting experience. They won’t have to leave the business premises just because they have to send an email or surf the internet.

But with so much attention geared towards the mobile web, I’m not sure how well a business Wi-Fi hotspot service will do. My guess is that more and more people in Nigeria are now using their mobile devices to access the web, so when they’re at such business places and feel like getting on the web, they’d simply do so via their mobile devices.

Besides, there are several broadband wi-fi solutions now in Nigeria that offer competitive packages for businesses and individuals. These could be another major challenge for iWayAfrica’s business hotspot solution. Perhaps it’s too early to make assumptions, but it’ll be interesting to see how much of a success this innovation would become.