The proliferation of devices like smartphones and tablets, coupled with the growth of websites like Twitter, has resulted in more and more conference venues providing always-on connectivity
High data roaming charges can be a worry for international delegates. From needing to catch up on emails while at a conference to sharing their experience of the conference on Twitter, data access is a must.
Along with comfortable accommodation and interesting things to do while in a new country, it is a basic hygiene factor for conference organisers and delegates alike.
WiFi may seem to be the new big thing but is has been around a while. “The history of WiFi is it took off a number of years ago and slowly slowed up. It was a great big thing at the time,” explains John Bermingham, senior product manager for data at eircom, an Irish telecommunications company.
High demand for always-on connectivity
WiFi is back on the conference agenda because of the explosion in need for always-on connectivity to the internet for phone, tablet and laptop users.
“There’s very much a re-invigoration. The proliferation of tablets and the penetration of smartphones is making a massive difference to what people are demanding and what we need to offer.”
Keeping delegates connected is vital
Venues and professional conference organisers in Ireland realise the need to keep delegates connected while in a conference session and not just while in the venue lobby or hotel foyer. While not every delegate will have a need to go online at all, others may have more than one device with them. Whether it’s a smartphone or a tablet, such as the iPad, or their work or personal laptop, having the password for the free WiFi at the conference venue is as important as suitable keynote speakers to attract international delegates.
Careful planning for the Dublin Web Summit
Recently in Dublin, the organisers of the Dublin Web Summit, held at the RDS worked closely with BT, which is the WiFi provider at the RDS venue, to ensure connectivity for thousands of people and devices.
Dublin Web Summit Co-organiser David Kelly says that every delegate had pretty much close to 20 mega bits per second upload and download speed. They were prepared for 1,400 people using two to three devices plus the event was streamed live in HD by Livestream, http://new.livestream.com/dws> using the WiFi.
The national broadcaster RTÉ also streamed live using the WiFi and that was in addition to delegates sharing their experience.
“There was massive amounts of demand: people on Twitter, on their iPads, uploading photos, downloading content.”
Venues adapting to meet demand
Eircom was involved in WiFi-ing up all of Croke Park and The Convention Centre Dublin. As two of the newest conference centres in the country, these were built with WiFi accessibility in mind.
However, WiFi isn’t just for the shiny new venues. With a bit of effort, most venues can be set up for WiFi accessibility. Eircom also works closely with hotels and conference venues to fit them out with appropriate levels of WiFi – a few megabits per second download is required for the typical user experience.
“We would have seen even the medium-sized hotels, where they may even already have access in public areas, are now completely looking to fit out the hotel with WiFi,” says Bermingham.
How important is WiFi to your delegates?