Romania’s hotspot map increased by 180 in 2009, up to 800 locations

According to players in the industry, the most expensive wireless access centre in the country is a hot-zone worth €12,000, located within Romexpo Bucharest’s fair grounds, which includes several hotspots.

“The initial investment for a hotspot varies, depending on the area to be covered with wireless signal, which can add a rental cost, the cost of installing internet at the access point, the equipment used for propagating radio waves, and the tension stabilizer. Referring to a minimum, the initial investment in case of a hotspot with one access point is of some €250,” Stefan-Adrian Apateanu, Manager of the Atlas Networking operator of the hot-spot.ro network, told Business Standard.

According to the official, two thirds of the active hotspots in Romania operate nonstop. Typical users of this kind of wireless internet service are young people, businesspeople, and tourists, aged 14-50. Some of the most popular locations for hotspots are airports, bars, parks, and train stations, areas which are frequented daily by many people who need to communicate online. On average, a user of free public hotspots spends 30 minutes online.