“We now have about 80 hotspots, totaling more than 400 access points installed. We estimate to reach about 1,000 Wi-Fi access points installed throughout the country by the end of next year,” Patachia-Sultanoiu said.
“These hotspots can be considered an extension of the mobile network. They boost the capacity of the network in areas with a high user density and high data traffic demand, such as the National Arena stadium, Bucharest’s Old City and malls.”
Orange’s Wi-Fi network expansion efforts come after investments in the infrastructure required to enable the expansion, says Cristian Patachia-Sultanoiu.
The company worked with several equipment and service providers on the project, such as Cisco, Alcatel Lucent and Adipsys.
Orange’s Wi-Fi Zone uses Passpoint authentication technology, which allows customers to connect automatically and securely to Orange hotspots, based on their SIM cards, without having to input a user name and a password. The technology enabling them to do so is only available on certain phones such as Apple and Samsung’s high-end handsets.
The operator that built the most extensive hotspot network in Romania is RCS&RDS of Oradea businessman Zoltan Teszari. RCS&RDS’ corporate website says the Digi Wi-Fi network now numbers 2,265 hotspots, about 100 fewer than in March 2013.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)