T-MOBILE USA, INC. AWARDED PUBLIC WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS CONTRACT FOR LOS ANGELES, ONTARIO AND VAN NUYS AIRPORTS
(Los Angeles, California – April 3, 2006) The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners approved a concession agreement with T-Mobile USA, Inc. to provide public wireless internet access at Los Angeles and Ontario International and Van Nuys Airports.
T-Mobile has committed to enough access points to provide top quality broadband wireless internet access (WiFi) to all public areas in passenger terminals, as well as to airport tenants. The basic fee WiFi internet users will pay to access the network is the industry standard of $9.99 for each 24 hours. Existing T-Mobile customers will be charged according to their current wireless plans.
T-Mobile’s concession contract for three years includes two one year options. In addition to paying Los Angeles World Airports a minimum annual guarantee of $4.8 million over the first three years, the company will also pay LAWA 25 cents for each completed WiFi connection. Service is expected to begin 120 days after the contract is executed.
Other contract proposers were Congo Wireless and SBC.
T-Mobile, a leading company in the WiFi industry, will provide the latest technologies and services to LAWA passengers. It committed to invest $700,000 in fixtures and equipment and $250,000 in marketing per year. It operates 6,300 WiFi hotspots or access points in the United States and another 20,000 locations worldwide. In a 2006 customer survey, it ranked highest in customer care performance for the third consecutive year.