Before wireless 3G networks launched, the only way a person could get decent wireless Internet connections while on the road was via a WiFi hotspot. Even though we now live in the age of LTE and 4G wireless speeds, trying to get a stable wireless Internet connection while traveling can still be a chore. Some wireless network providers have installed their own WiFi hot spots in large public areas to better deal with the increase in wireless data traffic.
In a new press release this week, a study commissioned by the industry lobbying organization The Wireless Broadband Alliance claims that the amount of WiFi hotspots will continue to expand at a huge pace. They study predicts that by 2015, there will be 5.8 million public WiFi hotspots worldwide. That"s a massive 350 percent increase compared to the 1.3 million WiFi hot spots that are live today.
The biggest reason for this increase is that wireless data traffic is expected to go up even more than its current level. Cisco predicts that the amount of data that is handled by the various wireless providers will go up to 26 times the current amount thanks to increased sales of smartphones and tablets.
As a result, big cities with lots of people, and therefore lots of strain on the normal wireless infrastructure, will get even more WiFi hotspot support in the near future. According to the press release, "Operators plan to manage the impact of this growth primarily through new pricing strategies and WiFi-based offload."