Public Wi-Fi: Pros and Cons for Venues and Users

Public Wi-Fi boosts footfall and engagement, but it introduces duty-of-care and privacy considerations.

Pros

• Venue value: longer dwell time, repeat visits, and feedback channels.
• User value: connectivity for work, study, travel, and entertainment.
• City value: digital inclusion, tourism support, and smart services.

Cons

• Abuse risk: heavy downloads, prohibited content.
• Privacy: collection and handling of personal data requires care.
• Support: captive portals can confuse first-time users.

Mitigations

• Rate limits, time quotas, and content filtering.
• Clear privacy notice; minimize data; anonymize & aggregate analytics.
• Simple, resilient login (OTP or voucher) and a visible help link.