Wifi/internet is part of our everyday life and its something we come to expect. I spend a lot of time hillwalking in Wales and the café in llanberis has free wifi. Great for uploading photos of the maountain when you have just got down and enjoying a hot cuppa.
Just spent two weeks as a volunteer at the Jambe 2013, Belgium International Scout Jamboree where over 1000 scouts from around the world lived in harmony camping in the woods. However as a means of communication it was one of the most hi-tech I have seen. The venue was out in the middle of nowhere but they had multiple wifi networks for staff use based on roles and criticality. Also for camp attendees they had a participant wifi network that enabled online social interaction between attendees. Lots of multi media and communications. The camp was covered by the national press both newspapers and TV and the online footage from the Belgian TV stations was viewable by people at the camp. It was a huge success. Because it was the norm and was available attendees didn't spend all day on their smartphones or tablets. They preferred to take part in the camp activities and just catch up online during breaks in the eve. It was a FREE. Bonus after leaving this is that people who used facebook/twitter at the camp are still communicating globally with each other now its all over. It has helped create friendships that will persist over time. Am attending the UK Scout Associations major global reunion in a couple of weeks - free wifi in Essex - not a chance, not even paid wifi.
On the subject of airports/boats. On the way to Belgium - on the ferry you had to pay for access and it was so slow it was not usable. I was in Australia 4 weeks ago. Flew Emirates - internet available on the flight - though expensive. Dubai, Sydney and Melbourne airports all had free wifi and it was fast. In Sydney, lots of bars/cafe's with free wifi as it was in my hotel.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
