Free WiFi Access at Helsinki Airport a Huge Success

The free online access provided by Finavia at Helsinki Airport has experienced a dramatic growth in popularity over the past 12 months. The user interfaces have also changed.

"The number of users in the wireless network has increased massively in the last 12 months. In January 2013, the number of users was 168% higher than in January 2012," said Ville Haapasaari, Airport Director.

Compared to the figures in January 2009, the increase is even more extensive: the user volume is now almost 30 times higher.

The user interfaces have also changed. A few years ago, Windows installed in a laptop was the main way of connecting to the wireless network of Helsinki Airport, but now 67% of visitors uses the network with Android.

The rapid increase in the user volume is mainly based on mobile devices becoming more common and the fact that the WiFi at Helsinki Airport functions very well.

Last year, Finavia improved the WLAN connection at Helsinki Airport by increasing the number of base stations and upgrading the speed rate to 100 Mbps. The total number of base stations is more than 80.

"The international passengers thank us continuously for the Helsinki Airport WiFi because only a few airports in the world are providing a well-functioning, fast wireless online connection, which is free of charge. Many passengers want to remain online regardless of location and spend their waiting time at the airport with entertainment or work tasks," said Haapasaari.

Last year, the share of transit travel between Europe and Asia was 31% of the total number of passengers at the airport.

Finavia provides a free of charge wireless network at 20 airports in Finland, namely: Helsinki Airport, Helsinki-Malmi, Ivalo, Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Kajaani, Kemi-Tornio, Kittilä, Kokkola-Pietarsaari, Kuopio, Kuusamo, Lappeenranta, Mariehamn, Oulu, Pori, Rovaniemi, Savonlinna, Tampere-Pirkkala, Turku, and Vaasa.