Category: Latest News

  • Feature Spotlight: ACS Multi-Site Roaming Support

    Your VIPs and valued members can now easily gain Internet access across multiple locations (even across the globe) by just logging in once. This is made possible with the new ACS feature, Multi-Site Roaming Support. HOW MULTI-SITE ROAMING WORKS Multi-Site Roaming is an ANTlabs Cloud Services (ACS) feature that enables users to seamlessly roam from […]

  • How private can public WiFi get?

    It may sound like an oxymoron, but it is possible to get a private, secure, home-like network connectivity while connected to public guest networks such as those that are found in hotels, condos, dormitories, serviced suites, and co-working spaces. ANTlabs created the PAN (Personal Area Network) module for the IG 4 and SG 4 gateways for this very reason: good high-speed Internet access and privacy for each user in a guest network.

    Picture this scenario: You just arrived at your hotel straight from the airport and you just want to relax by watching your saved shows on Netflix or play games on your Nintendo Switch on the Smart TV in your hotel room.

    When you are
    in a hotel guest network, that scenario is not usually as straightforward as sitting
    down on your couch and finding your own devices in your own home network, and
    then connecting these devices so they could ‘talk’ to one another. What would
    most likely happen is that you would search for the SSID of the access point
    (AP) where you are supposed to connect to, connect to that, and after that, you
    do the same thing for your other devices, and search for the ones that you want
    to connect to the Smart TV. Unlike your home network where you only see the
    devices that you own, you would most likely be also shown other people’s
    devices that are also connected to that AP—and that is usually a very long
    list.  Convenience is one thing, but
    security is another very significant concern.

    In the age of the IoT (Internet of Things) and digital nomads, the need for us and our personal devices to stay connected virtually everywhere is ever-increasing daily. Free, fast, and easy—that is how the ideal WiFi connectivity is for most people. How many people are there who think this way? Let’s get to the numbers.

    Out of the
    world’s total population of 7.676 billion, 4.388 billion are Internet users,
    and 5.112 billion are unique mobile users1. That is a lot of users
    and that data does not even include the other devices users own that also need
    to connect to the Internet daily (i.e. IoT devices). According to Gartner’s
    forecast2, the average number of users or devices supported per
    deployed WLAN AP will increase by approximately 20% to 30% from 2018 through
    2023. With those figures, it is even more crucial to have privacy, especially when
    connected to guest networks and transferring sensitive data (e.g. personal data
    or work files) over the Internet. Can hotels, serviced suites, or co-working
    spaces provide that kind of privacy for each user? For service providers, is
    providing each guest with private networks affordable and easy to implement?

    At present, creating numerous SSIDs for each location and providing multiple Internet links for each IoT device type are the most commonly used methods for addressing these concerns but neither exactly answer privacy concerns nor are they easy and cheap to implement. Your guests can still see other devices on the network and the reality is, not all guests are Internet security-conscious enough to safeguard their own devices before connecting to public networks. A security or data breach that happens on your network is the last thing you want to happen. On top of that, the hotel staff must repeatedly adjust or create plans for Internet access provisioning especially during peak seasons or times when there are big events. The cost of training and maintenance is also added to your existing Internet service expenses.

    ANTlabs, with 20 years of experience in guest network technology creation and innovation, had these concerns in mind when PAN module was created. This module allows service providers to give a multitude of users with multiple devices their own private networks, where they can manage their devices on their own during their stay, and it works well with ANTlabs’ signature 3-stage Advanced QoS. When these two modules are working together, your hotel staff’s devices, guest room IoT devices and guests’ personal devices can co-exist without sacrificing quality and user privacy. For example, you can set it in a way that with your hotel’s 10 GB pipe, each VIP gets a private network with guaranteed 1 GB bandwidth while your premium guests also get their own private network with 200 MB. Your hotel staff and offices each get a private network with 500 MB while non-staying visitors get 200 MB to share among themselves. Giving your guests peace of mind in knowing that they have their own private networks is one big plus to their total experience.

    With PAN Module, there is no more need for multiple Internet links for different IoT device types and your guests shall not see other guests’ devices on your network. This is not only applicable for hotels but also for long-stay serviced apartments, dormitories, condos, shared offices, and other multi-dwelling units. PAN Module will potentially increase network security, protect your staff and guests from privacy intrusion, simplify operations support, and therefore improve the overall user experience in your hotel.

    Whether you
    are running a small hotel or a chain of hotels around the world, you and your
    guests still want the same thing: a good experience—and to help usher in that
    kind of experience calls for fast, seamless, and secure connectivity.

    Related Articles:

    https://www.antlabs.com/latest-news/how-to-let-your-hotel-guest-cast-netflix-on-tv-in-their-own-rooms-private-network/

    1 WeAreSocial and HootsuiteTM (2019) ‘Essential Insights Into How People Around the World Use the Internet, Mobile Devices, Social Media, and E-Commerce’ [PowerPoint presentation]. Available at: https://datareportal.com/reports/?tag=Digital+2019 (Accessed: 7 July 2019).

    2 Naresh Singh,
    Christian Canales, Joe Skorupa, Evan Zeng. (2019). Forecast Analysis:
    Enterprise Network Equipment, Worldwide. Connecticut: Gartner.

     

    Singapore, June 17, 2019—ANTlabs Pte. Ltd. launches their smallest full-featured gateway yet at HITEC 2019 in Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA. The IG 4110 is created for smaller properties such as boutique hotels, hostels, healthcare facilities, and small multi-dwelling units (MDU). Hoteliers and property owners can easily pick the modules that they need (e.g. Property Management System, Volume Control, Personal Area Network), and each gateway can handle up to 800 user licenses. This enables smaller properties to scale cost-effectively as they grow.

    “IG 4110 is all about reduced total cost of ownership,” said Teck-Kang Toh, the Chief Product Officer of ANTlabs, at HITEC. “Good WiFi connectivity is now expected even at small hotels and this adds up to how guests perceive the quality of their stay. What we are trying to bring across is that hotel owners have the potential to offer the same connectivity as bigger hotels are able to but at a reduced cost.”

    IG 4110 is now available through ANTlabs partners, worldwide and it comes with 3 years support.

    About ANTlabs

    ANTlabs is a leading technology innovator for guest network technology and services for 20 years. Established in 1999 and based in Singapore, ANTlabs products have been used globally in hotels, airports, telecommunications companies, stadiums and convention centers.

    Media Contacts

    ANTlabs Product Department
    Tel: +65 6858 6789
    Email:   media@antlabs.com
    URL: www.antlabs.com

     

  • Feature Spotlight: User Form Authentication

    The user form authentication method requires downstream users to fill in a form to access the Internet. There is an option to verify the identity of the user via SMS or email and gateway administrators can enable it upon setting up the form. The data collected is then presented in the web admin GUI and […]

  • ANTlabs Cloud Services, ever since its launch, has made global guest WiFi management easier for many huge properties in the world by allowing their venue owners to be able to configure thousands of devices, run diagnostics and view reports in one place. More features have been released to improve both guest and admin/venue owner experience while using ACS.

    The following features have been recently rolled out in ACS Update #15:

    Multi-language Portal Support

    ACS portals can now support multiple languages so whether you are remotely managing an overseas site and want to localize your messages, or you just want to add more ways to communicate to your guests more effectively, this feature will help make that possible for you. Admins can configure text and create user login pages in up to 10 different languages.

    New Portal Templates

    We added three new templates: Natural, Minimalist and Corporate. Have your login portals up in no time by selecting any of the available templates in ACS, or easily make custom pages that adheres to your brand. Deploying the same portal design across a large number of sites? No problem. ACS can let you duplicate a site across multiple venues.

    New Real-Time Downloadable Reports

    Tracking the progress of your guest Internet revenue is made easier with the new downloadable reports. These three new reports can be found under Reports and Analytics:

    • Session Report: Enables admins to view and download user sessions.
    • Transaction Report: Enables admins to view and download transactions.
    • Revenue Report: Enables admins to view and download daily, weekly and monthly transaction summary.

    These are just three of the many features to be explored in ACS. Login to your ACS account now to try these out. Interested in ANTlabs Cloud Services? Email us to know more about ACS.

    Houston, TX – ANTlabs, a leading Internet business enabler, is at HITEC Houston to exhibit new product features and give a quick glimpse of a new, upcoming product. This four-day event on June 18-21, 2018 gathers top-notch industry leaders, experts, and key people in the hospitality industry, and is held at the George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, Texas USA.

    This year, ANTlabs brings InnMobile ‘Hotel WiFi on-the-go’ on the table—a new service delivery platform to allow guests to easily stay connected everywhere. Hotel guests may bring along this device whenever they go outside the hotel premises and they shall get the same hotel WiFi experience they have. Aside from InnMobile, some other highlights this year for ANTlabs products are differentiated WiFi experience for rewards club members, and seamless roaming/re-login for VIPs.

    In line with the company’s focus on increasing guest loyalty while reducing cost through HSIA, a tutorial session entitled “Transforming HSIA for Your Next-Gen Guest” will be conducted by Don West, the National Channel Manager of MTS Inc. This will be on Wednesday, June 20, 11:15 AM-11:45 AM.

    ANTlabs booth can easily be found near the entrance of the convention center at Booth #1513 (Map).

    Contact sales@antlabs.com for more details.

     

  • [VIDEO] Kwang Tat Ang discusses the next wave in WiFi monetization

    VP of Customer Solutions, Kwang Tat Ang, discusses with Wi-Fi Now’s Claus Hetting, the next wave in WiFi monetization:

  • ANTlabs officially announces its new office located at Dubai Internet City. The new office allows ANTlabs to reinforce close working relationships with partners and customers in the Middle East, and hastens the expansion of ANTlabs’ presence in the area. This is a strategic business growth decision as the area represents rich and diverse growth opportunities, and the company is poised to expand its ability to service current and future markets.

    ANTlabs Dubai Office grand opening celebration at At.Mosphere, Burj Khalifa

    “ANTlabs products has powered our esteemed customers’ networks in the Middle East, especially in GCC region for more than 15 years. With the rapid infrastructure and technological advancements in the last few years, the Middle East has become a global pioneer for Smart Cities, IOT and Digital future,” said Wee-Tuck Teo, ANTlabs CEO.

    “ANTlabs believes in the bold vision of Middle East and we are opening a regional HQ office in Dubai to respond agilely in the shortest time our latest leading technology to market. Our regional office will also address our expanding market and to enhance our relationship and support to our key customers here in the Middle East,” Tahir Qureshi, ANTlabs Middle East General Manager, added.

    The office had a soft opening on August 25, 2017 and its grand opening celebration was held on October 12, 2017 at the At.Mosphere lounge, Burj Khalifa. It was attended by ANTlabs executives and partners.

    About ANTlabs

    ANTlabs is a leading technology innovator for guest network technology and services for more than 18 years. Established in 1999 and based in Singapore, ANTlabs products have been used globally in hotels, airports, telecommunications companies, stadiums and convention centers.

    Media Contacts

    ANTlabs Product Department
    Tel: +65 6858 6789
    Email: media@antlabs.com
    URL: www.antlabs.com

    Revolutionary new SG 4400 supports up to 30,000 concurrent transit devices. The new event manager module promotes unique digital experience to connect with visitors better.

    Singapore, 27 June, 2017- ANTlabs, the market leader in Asia Pacific for service gateways, announces that their latest gateway (SG 4400) is ready for shipment today. ANTlabs also pre-launches another software module, Event Manager. With these new solutions, ANTlabs aims to capture the exploding opportunities available in M.I.C.E sector by providing a highly customizable solution that promotes uniqueness, and eventually drive business.

    The revolutionary SG 4400 comes with higher performance and capacity. It can scale up to two million accounts, 120,000 concurrent transit devices, 40GB throughput and one million connections on a cluster setup. SG 4400 is also powered by ANTlabs Cloud Services, which helps business makes decision based on real data through analytics

    The new Event Manager module comes with a wealth of configurable options that allow individual events to have its own unique digital experience.  Each event will not only have its own customised welcome-cum-login page, venue operators can preconfigure different web banners to appear on the welcome page at different timing. These flexibilities enhance the value of the venue as it allows event organiser more opportunities to sell advertising space.

    ANTlabs M.I.C.E solution also comes with a comprehensive reporting. It collates information on total user count, data and duration usage etc. For events with social media logins, additional visitor details (name, email, gender, age group, influence, place and birthday) can be shared with the event organiser as part of the post event report.  These reports are valuable to event organiser as it helps them to engage visitors better and drive more traffic for future events. Venue operators who provide this report indirectly increase the customer service level of the venue.

    “The common challenges we constantly received from M.I.C.E customers are the increasing demand for value-added services” said ANTlabs Product Director, Teck Kang Toh. “We address these challenges by offering a highly customisable solution for M.I.C.E customers to map out their own unique digital experience. This is not only valuable to visitors but also to businesses that are keen monetize their Wi-Fi services.”

    SG 4400 is now ready for shipment and the Event Manager module is also available for pre-order. For more information, please contact ANTlabs at sales@antlabs.com / visit www.antlabs.com / follow us on

    https://www.twitter.com/antlabs
    https://www.facebook.com/antlabs
    https://www.linkedin.com/company/antlabs
    https://plus.google.com/+Antlabs/posts


    About ANTlabs

    ANTlabs is a leading Internet business enabler and the Asia Pacific market leader for service gateways. As a market leader, ANTlabs provides award-winning technology solutions for the hospitality sector, large venue network operators, and telcos.

     

  • Huawei and ANTlabs Collaborate to Enhance Traveler Experience in the Middle East

    Technology innovation to ensure better connectivity for busy travelers Dubai, UAE – December 19, 2016: Huawei, a leading global ICT solutions provider, is working with industry leader ANTlabs to develop innovative hospitality solutions that empower hotels to meet the needs of today’s travelers who expect uninterrupted connectivity throughout the duration of their stay. ANTlabs, a […]