Is Satellite Internet Really Worth It?

Is satellite Internet really worth serious thought? Well, that all depends. Have you ever been frustrated by your telephone company or DSL Internet provider? Have you ever been in a location that does not have terrestrial DSL or cable Internet available? Now you get the idea of ​​why this is quickly becoming a popular third alternative.

This internet service is similar to satellite TV. 22,000 miles away from the earth, a satellite floats in geostationary orbit and provides a signal, which will eventually reach the homeowner. The satellite is a powerful force to be reckoned with, considering that it allows high speed Internet access with minimal slowdown or downtime. Satellite offers high bandwidth and connection speeds, usually between 512 kbps to 2 mbps, which is standard in the industry.

Are there are negatives to ordering this service? Possibly, but none of these negatives are exclusive to satellite. For instance, it's well known that weather problems can hinder the performance of a satellite Internet connection. However, weather extremes can also tamper with services provided by cable companies or telephone companies. Latency issues have also been cited by some critics, but every provider you choose will have similar issues. The fact of the matter is that it offers an uptime of 99%, comparable to other services currently in the market.

The signals received via satellite technology are so powerful that they can remain stable even for users who are traveling by vehicle or by sea vessel. This is sometimes the only choice for users who live in deep rural areas and have no access to terrestrial Internet connections. This new technology may be good news to you if you have ever been rejected service by a traditional provider because of your remote location. This is not to say that most people who choose satellite Internet have no choice in the matter; the newest findings show that many users switch to it over traditional DSL because of the advantages involved, not because of location.

How about pricing? In the past, this technology was very pricey. However, if you have been paying attention to satellite TV you know by now that it is less expensive than cable. Similarly with Internet, the market has changed. Companies are aggressively marketing their services and aiming to compete against established Internet providers which offer terrestrial Internet access. This means that prices must come down and hefty setup fees must be reduced.

The best way to approach the situation is to contact every provider and get a rundown of all the best features for comparison. Pay attention to any contract terms, any special packages (such as deals that bring you satellite TV and Internet for a low monthly price) and any other inclusions or exclusions. You may also be interested in more than one satellite service option, such as a remote satellite connection that follows you wherever you travel.

vpn

Is satellite Internet really worth serious thought? Well, that all depends. Have you ever been frustrated by your telephone company or DSL Internet provider? Have you ever been in a location that does not have terrestrial DSL or cable Internet available? Now you get the idea of ​​why this is quickly becoming a popular third alternative.

This internet service is similar to satellite TV. 22,000 miles away from the earth, a satellite floats in geostationary orbit and provides a signal, which will eventually reach the homeowner. The satellite is a powerful force to be reckoned with, considering that it allows high speed Internet access with minimal slowdown or downtime. Satellite offers high bandwidth and connection speeds, usually between 512 kbps to 2 mbps, which is standard in the industry.

Are there are negatives to ordering this service? Possibly, but none of these negatives are exclusive to satellite. For instance, it's well known that weather problems can hinder the performance of a satellite Internet connection. However, weather extremes can also tamper with services provided by cable companies or telephone companies. Latency issues have also been cited by some critics, but every provider you choose will have similar issues. The fact of the matter is that it offers an uptime of 99%, comparable to other services currently in the market.

The signals received via satellite technology are so powerful that they can remain stable even for users who are traveling by vehicle or by sea vessel. This is sometimes the only choice for users who live in deep rural areas and have no access to terrestrial Internet connections. This new technology may be good news to you if you have ever been rejected service by a traditional provider because of your remote location. This is not to say that most people who choose satellite Internet have no choice in the matter; the newest findings show that many users switch to it over traditional DSL because of the advantages involved, not because of location.

How about pricing? In the past, this technology was very pricey. However, if you have been paying attention to satellite TV you know by now that it is less expensive than cable. Similarly with Internet, the market has changed. Companies are aggressively marketing their services and aiming to compete against established Internet providers which offer terrestrial Internet access. This means that prices must come down and hefty setup fees must be reduced.

The best way to approach the situation is to contact every provider and get a rundown of all the best features for comparison. Pay attention to any contract terms, any special packages (such as deals that bring you satellite TV and Internet for a low monthly price) and any other inclusions or exclusions. You may also be interested in more than one satellite service option, such as a remote satellite connection that follows you wherever you travel.

Scuba Diving Takes Game Watching to a Different Level

Goggles, air tanks, wet suits and dry suits, flippers, weight belts, underwater watches and cameras. The stuff of scuba diving, venturing into a different world, a beautiful world, where the plants and animals are so varied and marvelous, so very different to life on dry land. When you strap on your scuba diving gear and drop beneath the waves, there's a certain quiet and something foreign-yet-fantastic that envelopes you. There's the weightlessness, that floating feeling. You become aware of the wave action, the currents, and the lighting is different down there – filtered, less glaring, and yet sometimes the colors can be so bright, luminous even.

You might have walked into the sea from the beach or the rocks, or you might have boated out to a popular drop site, above a reef perhaps. Scuba diving to some is a sport, possibly involving spear-fishing, or a means to an end if you're a scientist studying the ocean, or a treasure-hunter exploring sunken wrecks, or, or, or. For most people who go scuba diving, though, they do it for the fun of it, for the sense of adventure. Generally speaking, scuba diving does not involve taking anything out of the ocean other than what you took in with you plus memories and pictures of the many amazing sights, of the incredible diversity of life – from the tiny to the huge, harmless to dangerous, downright weird to unbelievably spectacular.

You never go scuba diving alone – diving in pairs or in groups is one of the safety precautions, and besides, it's more fun to share each other's experiences. And before you even think about pulling on a diving mask and heading for the ocean floor, you must undergo some basic training – possibly even taking an advanced course if you're contemplating something particularly unusual or challenging. Yes there are creatures and conditions down there that can be life-threatening if you don't follow the rules, don't heed the advice of the experts, don't show respect for the deep. By and large, however, even more important than learning how to behave in the sea is how to breathe in it – there's a lot more to it than connecting to an air-pipe and keeping an eye on the clock.

Even once you're qualified to go scuba diving, before you dive in there are numerous checks and cross-checks that one does in terms of the condition of the water and the weather, the boat if you're using one, and all the equipment you'll be using down under. But without taking anything for granted, you soon get used to the necessary rigmarole in the interests of trouble-free scuba diving. From there on out it's about going on a magical mystery tour – though you're prepared for what to expect, the exact nature of things will surprise you time and again, which of course is all part of the adventure.

The following outfits are all professionals offering scuba diving adventures in South Africa. In Johannesburg: Divetek. In KwaZulu-Natal: ScubaAddicts, Reefteach, Aqua Planet Dive Center and the Umkomaas Lodge Dive Charters. In Plettenberg Bay: Jamin Adventures. In Mossel Bay: Electrodive. In Gans Bay: Shark Diving Unlimited.

unlimited

Goggles, air tanks, wet suits and dry suits, flippers, weight belts, underwater watches and cameras. The stuff of scuba diving, venturing into a different world, a beautiful world, where the plants and animals are so varied and marvelous, so very different to life on dry land. When you strap on your scuba diving gear and drop beneath the waves, there's a certain quiet and something foreign-yet-fantastic that envelopes you. There's the weightlessness, that floating feeling. You become aware of the wave action, the currents, and the lighting is different down there – filtered, less glaring, and yet sometimes the colors can be so bright, luminous even.

You might have walked into the sea from the beach or the rocks, or you might have boated out to a popular drop site, above a reef perhaps. Scuba diving to some is a sport, possibly involving spear-fishing, or a means to an end if you're a scientist studying the ocean, or a treasure-hunter exploring sunken wrecks, or, or, or. For most people who go scuba diving, though, they do it for the fun of it, for the sense of adventure. Generally speaking, scuba diving does not involve taking anything out of the ocean other than what you took in with you plus memories and pictures of the many amazing sights, of the incredible diversity of life – from the tiny to the huge, harmless to dangerous, downright weird to unbelievably spectacular.

You never go scuba diving alone – diving in pairs or in groups is one of the safety precautions, and besides, it's more fun to share each other's experiences. And before you even think about pulling on a diving mask and heading for the ocean floor, you must undergo some basic training – possibly even taking an advanced course if you're contemplating something particularly unusual or challenging. Yes there are creatures and conditions down there that can be life-threatening if you don't follow the rules, don't heed the advice of the experts, don't show respect for the deep. By and large, however, even more important than learning how to behave in the sea is how to breathe in it – there's a lot more to it than connecting to an air-pipe and keeping an eye on the clock.

Even once you're qualified to go scuba diving, before you dive in there are numerous checks and cross-checks that one does in terms of the condition of the water and the weather, the boat if you're using one, and all the equipment you'll be using down under. But without taking anything for granted, you soon get used to the necessary rigmarole in the interests of trouble-free scuba diving. From there on out it's about going on a magical mystery tour – though you're prepared for what to expect, the exact nature of things will surprise you time and again, which of course is all part of the adventure.

The following outfits are all professionals offering scuba diving adventures in South Africa. In Johannesburg: Divetek. In KwaZulu-Natal: ScubaAddicts, Reefteach, Aqua Planet Dive Center and the Umkomaas Lodge Dive Charters. In Plettenberg Bay: Jamin Adventures. In Mossel Bay: Electrodive. In Gans Bay: Shark Diving Unlimited.

What Is Net Neutrality and How It Can Affect Your Business

The subject of net neutrality has been the topic of many discussions on the US forums and discussion boards since long now. To first understand why many businesses are so upset about the subject, you have to understand what net neutrality is.

What is net neutrality? According to an article in Business Insider, net neutrality prevents Internet providers from dictating the kinds of content users would be able to access online. Instead, Internet providers are required to treat all traffic sources equally. Why is this topic so controversial that the US Court of Appeals had to weigh-in? Because Internet Service Providers (ISPs) like Verizon, ATamp;T, and Comcast want to charge for use of their networks. Meaning, these providers will have the ability to pick and choose what consumers see online and to then charge content providers.

The internet speed is basically a fixed sum game. If your competition can afford to pay to drive on the fast lane, then by default your small business gets put in the slow lane. The deeper the pockets of the company, the more competition they can speed past on the way to new customers. Right now many small bloggers and start up websites are afforded the exact same opportunity to reach an audience as the big corporations. However, it is important that you understand what net neutrality is and how it can affect you. When you boil it down, net neutrality means that all data is equally accessible via the Internet. This means that regardless of whether you are a small accounting firm or one of the big name international firms, you have equal access to placing information and accessing other information via the web. You must also factor in things like advertising and marketing budgets to get the word out, but in terms of accessibility, you're on a level playing field with the big dogs. If net neutrality goes out the window, so does that equal accessibility. Some things to consider:

Paying More For Better Access:

No net neutrality means that Internet service providers (ISPs) will be able to create tiers of accessibility, meaning they can start demanding more money for better accessibility. Smaller businesses with tiny budgets won't be able to compete for access with the larger companies who can afford to pay the new fees. It also means that there's nothing to stop big companies or competitors from paying ISPs to slow access to other sites, thus effectively putting them out of business.

Limited Access to Content:

ISPs will be able to limit what you have access to base on their own corporate interests. From Business Insider: "For example, Comcast would probably like to promote NBC's content over ABC's to its Internet subscribers. That's because Comcast and NBC are affiliated. But net neutrality prevents Comcast from being able to discriminate, and it must display both NBC's and ABC's content evenly as a result. That means no slower load time for ABC, and definitely no blocking of ABC altogether. " If net neutrality is gone, there's nothing to prevent corporate discrimination like this, meaning your window shopping for vendors may be limited to just those on Rodeo Drive. Your favorite information sources may not be as fully available to you as they are now.

Limited Access For Potential Clients:

While the previous example explained how you would be limited in what you could access (increasing costs for your business as your options dwindle), it works the other way as well. Prospects will now have a harder time finding you as well. Entrepreneur likens this to when you buy cable TV: "Instead of being able to sell to anyone with an internet connection … entrepreneurs would find their customers limited to those who paid for the 'internet package' that covers access to their particular website. It would be like your cable TV plan: The more you pay, the more channels you receive. " In essence, your clients may only be directed to window shop Rodeo Drive and not realize there are more efficient and equally effective options like you out there.

Slower Load Times:

So let's say ISPs don't altogether block access to those sites that aren't part of their approved network. That doesn't mean they won't try to incentivize you to visit their preferred sites. They can do this by interrupting streaming or slowing load times on websites that don't pay a premium. The speed and reliability of a site can make or break you. Admit it, you've just decided to leave a page when it took more than a couple of seconds to load. That impatience is universal and could affect traffic on your website. And if you wanted to engage in video marketing and stream on your website, you might be up the creek without a paddle (slowly, very slowly drifting).

Leveraging Video Marketing:

SMBs that depend on video (such as YouTube, Netflix, etc.) as part of their marketing strategy could be impacted if net neutrality is eliminated. For instance, if your company streams videos to homes across the country, or if you want customers to view your company product videos, then there's a probability you might be affected. Similarly, if SMBs can't afford to pay ISPs to share their content, their prospective customers may be unable to view the product videos and may not be enticed to purchase their products. Moreover, the investment on producing and optimizing the videos will result in a financial loss. The FCC decision, thus, could have an impact on your SMB and how you are able to access the internet in the future.

As a small business owner, it's important to understand net neutrality. The decisions being made could possibly have an impact on your small business and how you are able to access the Internet in the future.

vpn

The subject of net neutrality has been the topic of many discussions on the US forums and discussion boards since long now. To first understand why many businesses are so upset about the subject, you have to understand what net neutrality is.

What is net neutrality? According to an article in Business Insider, net neutrality prevents Internet providers from dictating the kinds of content users would be able to access online. Instead, Internet providers are required to treat all traffic sources equally. Why is this topic so controversial that the US Court of Appeals had to weigh-in? Because Internet Service Providers (ISPs) like Verizon, ATamp;T, and Comcast want to charge for use of their networks. Meaning, these providers will have the ability to pick and choose what consumers see online and to then charge content providers.

The internet speed is basically a fixed sum game. If your competition can afford to pay to drive on the fast lane, then by default your small business gets put in the slow lane. The deeper the pockets of the company, the more competition they can speed past on the way to new customers. Right now many small bloggers and start up websites are afforded the exact same opportunity to reach an audience as the big corporations. However, it is important that you understand what net neutrality is and how it can affect you. When you boil it down, net neutrality means that all data is equally accessible via the Internet. This means that regardless of whether you are a small accounting firm or one of the big name international firms, you have equal access to placing information and accessing other information via the web. You must also factor in things like advertising and marketing budgets to get the word out, but in terms of accessibility, you're on a level playing field with the big dogs. If net neutrality goes out the window, so does that equal accessibility. Some things to consider:

Paying More For Better Access:

No net neutrality means that Internet service providers (ISPs) will be able to create tiers of accessibility, meaning they can start demanding more money for better accessibility. Smaller businesses with tiny budgets won't be able to compete for access with the larger companies who can afford to pay the new fees. It also means that there's nothing to stop big companies or competitors from paying ISPs to slow access to other sites, thus effectively putting them out of business.

Limited Access to Content:

ISPs will be able to limit what you have access to base on their own corporate interests. From Business Insider: "For example, Comcast would probably like to promote NBC's content over ABC's to its Internet subscribers. That's because Comcast and NBC are affiliated. But net neutrality prevents Comcast from being able to discriminate, and it must display both NBC's and ABC's content evenly as a result. That means no slower load time for ABC, and definitely no blocking of ABC altogether. " If net neutrality is gone, there's nothing to prevent corporate discrimination like this, meaning your window shopping for vendors may be limited to just those on Rodeo Drive. Your favorite information sources may not be as fully available to you as they are now.

Limited Access For Potential Clients:

While the previous example explained how you would be limited in what you could access (increasing costs for your business as your options dwindle), it works the other way as well. Prospects will now have a harder time finding you as well. Entrepreneur likens this to when you buy cable TV: "Instead of being able to sell to anyone with an internet connection … entrepreneurs would find their customers limited to those who paid for the 'internet package' that covers access to their particular website. It would be like your cable TV plan: The more you pay, the more channels you receive. " In essence, your clients may only be directed to window shop Rodeo Drive and not realize there are more efficient and equally effective options like you out there.

Slower Load Times:

So let's say ISPs don't altogether block access to those sites that aren't part of their approved network. That doesn't mean they won't try to incentivize you to visit their preferred sites. They can do this by interrupting streaming or slowing load times on websites that don't pay a premium. The speed and reliability of a site can make or break you. Admit it, you've just decided to leave a page when it took more than a couple of seconds to load. That impatience is universal and could affect traffic on your website. And if you wanted to engage in video marketing and stream on your website, you might be up the creek without a paddle (slowly, very slowly drifting).

Leveraging Video Marketing:

SMBs that depend on video (such as YouTube, Netflix, etc.) as part of their marketing strategy could be impacted if net neutrality is eliminated. For instance, if your company streams videos to homes across the country, or if you want customers to view your company product videos, then there's a probability you might be affected. Similarly, if SMBs can't afford to pay ISPs to share their content, their prospective customers may be unable to view the product videos and may not be enticed to purchase their products. Moreover, the investment on producing and optimizing the videos will result in a financial loss. The FCC decision, thus, could have an impact on your SMB and how you are able to access the internet in the future.

As a small business owner, it's important to understand net neutrality. The decisions being made could possibly have an impact on your small business and how you are able to access the Internet in the future.

Battle for Superior Technology

The Internet has pretty much invaded the lives of everyone despite it being more linked to the youth. Websites are sprouting everywhere as well as new social networks that claims to be the next "Big Thingquot;. However, the internet has not yet reached its full potential because of one limiting factor, Internet Service Providers. The developments in the Internet could not be fully enjoyed by everyone in the Philippines but the improvements keep on coming that will enable us to truly enjoy a digital world.

Currently, there are three major service providers in the country. All three makes use of the same basic technologies that not only enable us to connect to the internet via our computers and laptops but through our mobile phones as well. Aside from the usual Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) lines provided by these three top suppliers of internet connections, there has been a growing trend of using mobile broadband technology. EDGE has been around for quite some time now but has been receiving various complaints since these can be accessed via a 2G signal which means that if the signal in an area drops, the connection drops as well. HSDPA / UMTS has replaced this technology since it is powered by a more advanced 3G technology. Lastly are wireless technology such as Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) are more commonly used in partnership with a DSL line to provide more users with a chance to experience the internet. These Wi-Fi spots are currently being utilized prominently by coffee shops as well as restaurants and mall as a way to attract consumers. Recently, trends show that the telecommunications companies are leading towards improving another wireless technology called Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (Wi-Max) that is designed for a better high-speed networking. Wi-Max is powered by 4G technology that results to faster internet speeds whether it is downloading or uploading. Yet, there is still a drawback in this 4G / Wi-Max technology in which users of this technology are given a maximum amount of bandwidth.

The improvement of these technologies coupled with the effects of high demand for internet connection results to price wars among the internet service providers. Rates for home internet use as well as mobile internet have become more inexpensive than ever. In addition, even prices of Wi-Fi ready smart phones have become very affordable thus giving almost everyone access to the internet. The only thing as of now is that with the very large amount of internet demand, the network infrastructure of the telecom companies has been insufficient to support this large need thus causing tantamount slowdowns during peak hours when a lot of people are online. This issue is something that plagues all internet service providers leading to poor customer satisfaction. The question now is how can the ever growing demand for the internet be accommodated when hardware and network infrastructure does not provide a satisfactory performance even if the internet penetration is just at a measly 30%? In the end, it won't just be a battle of prices but a battle of technology as well.

unlimited

The Internet has pretty much invaded the lives of everyone despite it being more linked to the youth. Websites are sprouting everywhere as well as new social networks that claims to be the next "Big Thingquot;. However, the internet has not yet reached its full potential because of one limiting factor, Internet Service Providers. The developments in the Internet could not be fully enjoyed by everyone in the Philippines but the improvements keep on coming that will enable us to truly enjoy a digital world.

Currently, there are three major service providers in the country. All three makes use of the same basic technologies that not only enable us to connect to the internet via our computers and laptops but through our mobile phones as well. Aside from the usual Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) lines provided by these three top suppliers of internet connections, there has been a growing trend of using mobile broadband technology. EDGE has been around for quite some time now but has been receiving various complaints since these can be accessed via a 2G signal which means that if the signal in an area drops, the connection drops as well. HSDPA / UMTS has replaced this technology since it is powered by a more advanced 3G technology. Lastly are wireless technology such as Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) are more commonly used in partnership with a DSL line to provide more users with a chance to experience the internet. These Wi-Fi spots are currently being utilized prominently by coffee shops as well as restaurants and mall as a way to attract consumers. Recently, trends show that the telecommunications companies are leading towards improving another wireless technology called Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (Wi-Max) that is designed for a better high-speed networking. Wi-Max is powered by 4G technology that results to faster internet speeds whether it is downloading or uploading. Yet, there is still a drawback in this 4G / Wi-Max technology in which users of this technology are given a maximum amount of bandwidth.

The improvement of these technologies coupled with the effects of high demand for internet connection results to price wars among the internet service providers. Rates for home internet use as well as mobile internet have become more inexpensive than ever. In addition, even prices of Wi-Fi ready smart phones have become very affordable thus giving almost everyone access to the internet. The only thing as of now is that with the very large amount of internet demand, the network infrastructure of the telecom companies has been insufficient to support this large need thus causing tantamount slowdowns during peak hours when a lot of people are online. This issue is something that plagues all internet service providers leading to poor customer satisfaction. The question now is how can the ever growing demand for the internet be accommodated when hardware and network infrastructure does not provide a satisfactory performance even if the internet penetration is just at a measly 30%? In the end, it won't just be a battle of prices but a battle of technology as well.

Pros and Cons of Free Public Wi-Fi

With the busy way of life people have nowadays, it seems crucial to stay connected with your loved ones and business partners wherever you go. There are lots of things you may plan to do during a day and you often have to keep everything under control. This concerns both home duties and job assignments. The round-the-clock availability of the Internet can do many things easier. You won’t have to watch the time to be in the office to hold a conference, for example. Just take a laptop and make sure you will be able to find free and reliable Wi-Fi to join the meeting on time. Likewise, you may travel abroad and take your smartphone, tablet or laptop with you to get in touch with your loved ones any time you need by launching to free public Wi-Fi hotspot. With that said, it becomes understandable, why the prevailing amount of cities across the globe tend to organize free zones for the local residents and the tourists. However, is the technology so reliable and safe as it seems to be? Let us have a closer look at the pros and cons of this technology below.

Positive Aspects of Free City Wi-Fi

As mentioned above, free public Wi-Fi makes it possible for people from different corners of the world to stay connected on the go any time of the day. This is surely one of the major benefits of this technology. Among other merits of the technology, it also makes sense to point out the following:

  • Enhanced traveling experience (the opportunity to check your e-mail, talk or exchange messages with people you love and miss)
  • Business advantages (if you have to hold an urgent conference, meeting or presentation, but are really pressed for time, you can do that from any place, where Wi-Fi services are provided for free)
  • The chance to plan your day wisely (you don’t have to postpone personal or business tasks if you have an opportunity to launch to the Wi-Fi network anywhere you need)
  • 24/7 availability, which means that there are dozens (if not hundreds) of free Wi-Fi hotspots almost in any town. So, why don’t you take a chance to make use of them when needed? That is an undeniable benefit, indeed!

Listed above are only several pros of this advanced technique. Now, it is high time to discuss the cons of the option to realize what to be ready for.

Negative Aspects of Using Free Wi-Fi in Public Places

We have already noted that most cities of the world offer free Wi-Fi nowadays and millions of people use the service without realizing the potential negative aftereffects they may face. Some of the negative aspects include:

  • The necessity for the owners of coffee houses, restaurants and other places that offer free Wi-Fi to handle a number of technical and financial problems. This is triggered by the fact that setting up the network with numerous access points is not an easy task, which requires the handling of technical issues. This is not as simple as you may see and the process always requires additional financial investments. That is the main reason of the fact that many restaurants, hotels and other public facilities offer the service only to their clients.
  • If the government of the city decides to launch the Wi-Fi network, this will also require serious financial expenditures. As a result, they may increase different taxes to solve the problem. Correspondingly, “free” Wi-Fi will not be absolutely free.
  • Privacy concerns also matter a lot when it comes to using free Wi-Fi in public places. If the mobile device you are going to use in order to launch to the network is not properly protected, you face the increased risks of falling the victim of professional hackers. They may use your personal information for different malicious purposes without your awareness of the fact. This is a serious problem most governments are concerned with nowadays.

vpn

With the busy way of life people have nowadays, it seems crucial to stay connected with your loved ones and business partners wherever you go. There are lots of things you may plan to do during a day and you often have to keep everything under control. This concerns both home duties and job assignments. The round-the-clock availability of the Internet can do many things easier. You won’t have to watch the time to be in the office to hold a conference, for example. Just take a laptop and make sure you will be able to find free and reliable Wi-Fi to join the meeting on time. Likewise, you may travel abroad and take your smartphone, tablet or laptop with you to get in touch with your loved ones any time you need by launching to free public Wi-Fi hotspot. With that said, it becomes understandable, why the prevailing amount of cities across the globe tend to organize free zones for the local residents and the tourists. However, is the technology so reliable and safe as it seems to be? Let us have a closer look at the pros and cons of this technology below.

Positive Aspects of Free City Wi-Fi

As mentioned above, free public Wi-Fi makes it possible for people from different corners of the world to stay connected on the go any time of the day. This is surely one of the major benefits of this technology. Among other merits of the technology, it also makes sense to point out the following:

  • Enhanced traveling experience (the opportunity to check your e-mail, talk or exchange messages with people you love and miss)
  • Business advantages (if you have to hold an urgent conference, meeting or presentation, but are really pressed for time, you can do that from any place, where Wi-Fi services are provided for free)
  • The chance to plan your day wisely (you don’t have to postpone personal or business tasks if you have an opportunity to launch to the Wi-Fi network anywhere you need)
  • 24/7 availability, which means that there are dozens (if not hundreds) of free Wi-Fi hotspots almost in any town. So, why don’t you take a chance to make use of them when needed? That is an undeniable benefit, indeed!

Listed above are only several pros of this advanced technique. Now, it is high time to discuss the cons of the option to realize what to be ready for.

Negative Aspects of Using Free Wi-Fi in Public Places

We have already noted that most cities of the world offer free Wi-Fi nowadays and millions of people use the service without realizing the potential negative aftereffects they may face. Some of the negative aspects include:

  • The necessity for the owners of coffee houses, restaurants and other places that offer free Wi-Fi to handle a number of technical and financial problems. This is triggered by the fact that setting up the network with numerous access points is not an easy task, which requires the handling of technical issues. This is not as simple as you may see and the process always requires additional financial investments. That is the main reason of the fact that many restaurants, hotels and other public facilities offer the service only to their clients.
  • If the government of the city decides to launch the Wi-Fi network, this will also require serious financial expenditures. As a result, they may increase different taxes to solve the problem. Correspondingly, “free” Wi-Fi will not be absolutely free.
  • Privacy concerns also matter a lot when it comes to using free Wi-Fi in public places. If the mobile device you are going to use in order to launch to the network is not properly protected, you face the increased risks of falling the victim of professional hackers. They may use your personal information for different malicious purposes without your awareness of the fact. This is a serious problem most governments are concerned with nowadays.