CityMax enhances Wi-Fi service with Aruba Networks

Aruba Network and Landmark’s Citymax hotels have joined forces to establish wireless infrastructure for Wi-Fi networks in the operator's Al Barsha and Bur Dubai properties. This has enabled the guests to use high speed wireless interenet via a multitude of personal computing devices through the entire premises of the two hotels including elevators and basement parking lots.

Explaining the brand's decision to overhaul its wireless infrastructure, Landmark Hospitality head of IT Amit Kanchan said, “Today, we summarise our customers' primary requirements with three Bs- Bed, Breakfast and Bandwidth. When guests enter our hotel, they don't want a welcome drink, they want to connect immediately. We have therefore had to adapt our business and focus on our Wi-Fi offering.”

The primary objective was to provide access across each property and enable guests to transition between Access Points (APs) without any noticeable change in performance - thus allowing them to roam throughout the hotel without losing internet connectivity.

Supported by Aruba's implementation partner, CADD Emirates, Citymax Hotels settled on an 802.11n solution from Aruba Network which could provide 600Mbps throughput and coverage to a large number of guest devices. The hotel offers a basic 512Kbps service free of charge, with bandwidth capping facilitated by the Aruba Network Mobility Controller.

In addition, the hotel has been able to monetise the network by extending a premium wireless connectivity option with faster speeds and greater bandwidth as a charged service. These offerings are said to have translated to a high level of customer satisfaction as the brand is capable of delivering secure high-performance wireless connectivity across all areas of the sprawling properties.

Guests connect via a single SSID thereby eliminating the need to repeatedly search for and log into the Wi-Fi network as they move around the hotel. The system has also been designed to provide the same high-level of service throughout the premises. A major benefit of Aruba's deployment was the efficient utilisation of existing infrastructure such as the network cabling. This dramatically cut project expenses.