The Port at Benalmadena in Spain is one of leisure. It’s marina was once voted best in the world. It’s surrounded by the town’s unique architecture, including three watchtowers. Ferries leave every day to Fuengirola and Malaga. It has over 1,000 berths, with 1,100 boats anchored (some remote, obviously) with all the facilities boaters expect, from showers to fresh water to electricity.
Plus, it’s got Wi-Fi.
Spanish telecommunications services integrator ITS Europe (a wholly-owned division of ITS Networks, Inc.) has signed a three-year contract to continue to provide wireless Internet connections to end-users within the port via its proprietary antenna.
ITS has been running a trial with the antenna at the Port of Benalmadena for sometime. 802.11b-capabile laptops and PDAs are available for rent to travelers in the area.
“The many boaters and travelers using the Port have relied on the high-speed wireline network they get at home or office,” said Gustavo Gomez, ITS Networks CEO in the company’s release. “These users were impressed to find they can now have it on vacation too and in a wireless format that grants them great mobility.”
ITS is in conversations with other Spanish ports to setup with the same kind of model. They expect a good revenue stream from this model: on the first day wireless service was available the company already had three people living at the port sign up for year-long access.
Eric Griffith is the managing editor of 802.11 Planet.
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