More, more, more!

Even with occupancy down, demand for bandwidth continues to increase.

The growth comes from several sources:

• Use of new applications like streaming video
• More leisure travelers with laptops
• Guests with multiple wireless devices - like iPhones, XBoxes and even 2nd laptops
  

Years ago you could could expect to service up to 16 rooms with one wireless access point and keep everyone happy with one T1 - not anymore. Today you really can't keep guests happy with more than 8 to 12 rooms per access point, and a T1 will only satisfy 8 guests at a time.

We have properties with more computers than rooms - where the guests regularly consume the equivalent of 5 T1s per 100 rooms. But keeping up with that kind of demand doesn't have to cost a lot.

By using a load-balancing firewall and carefully selecting the right Internet carriers, you can get 3 to 4 times the performance of a T1 for half the cost. We've done exactly this for several properties in the last two years and they have all gained the benefit of redundancy - if one Internet connection goes down, they have a second to keep them running.

Don't forget - that same benefit applies to the Front Desk and offices as well!