After being quoted £3,500 to provide a wireless network for a recent event we decided enough was enough and looked into alternative ways we could offer our exhibitors a basic web browsing service without being charged an extortionate amount.
Detailed research of a subject we don't have an advanced understanding of followed - the result...individual wireless 'mifi' devices for each exhibitor, which we - the organiser - own for future events. In addition to costing us less the devices also provided each exhibitor with five individual log ins rather than one code per stand.
The negatives - of course there were some - were the lack of onsite support should something go majorly wrong with the devices and the potential issue with lack of 3G signal (from which they operate). Thankfully the positives far outweighed the negatives and only one (out of 35) exhibitors mentioned the devices did not work - and that turned out to be a laptop firewall issue.
Total cost for these devices is about £2,000 per year (contract basis) but we can use them at each venue we use (signal allowing of course). Even with the added stress of managing the service on site it was a no brainer of a decision.
The thing is when working in IT events there is no exhibitor (or speaker) that accepts not having at least a basic level of Internet connection available. Being honest I agree with that expectation. As an organiser we would never promise free of charge high speed Internet but at all our small to mid sized events now we offer free Internet of a 'basic web browsing' level. When venues have being charging us between £800 and £3,500 per event it becomes a 'luxury' item that can put strain on tightening event budgets.
It is for the above reason that we sought - and I believe have found - an alternative solution.
Venues have to take note of what is available out there for organisers (and indeed exhibitors / speakers themselves) to purchase to avoid having to pay a premium to use an often poor to average venue service. At a recent event we paid £1000 for an open wireless network for 20 exhibitors - the network was so unstable (one minute full, the next almost none existent) that I was left feeling a combination of anger and intrigue...surely we could find a system that offers a better, more cost effective, level of service than that?!
It is the larger venues that are so open with taking the **** out of organisers and exhibitors - ExCeL for example charge £605 for one 1mb wired connection (no wireless available). Now I accept that a wired connection comes with IT support and is infinitely more reliable than wireless but why can't a cheap, unsupported wireless network be offered?! Especially when the same venue offers a cheap BT Openzone wireless service in it's foyer / lobby. ExCeL are not the only venue - EC&O, QEII and Barbican Exhibition Halls and ICC are just three others that spring to mind. I will point out regional venues, such as Saviles Hall and Villa Park, are vastly superior in what they offer compared to London.
We make it clear to our exhibitors & speakers that if Internet access is vital to their event experience then they should order a wired connection. Venues can charge a premium (which they do) for those services. However I can not see, or indeed have not heard from the various venues I have discussed this with, a legitimate reason (other than losing out on money & stress) why cheap / free basic web browsing wireless services are not offered at all venues.
The alternative none-venue option for us may not be perfect but at least there is now an option. Fingers crossed venues start to realise this.
www.connectevents.co.uk
No comments:
Post a Comment