The pan-African operator will make its managed Wifi services available to businesses seeking connectivity without procuring or managing their own LAN service.
Liquid Telecom will provide the connectivity for the service, which uses hardware from Ruckus Wireless and GlobalReach’s cloud-based platform. This offers authentication, authorisation and accounting, along with customisable captive portals, allowing deployment in a rage of locations without a large installation cost.
"The partnership with GlobalReach brings the power and scale of a global Wi-Fi enabler into Liquid’s core network and data centres, allowing our customers to benefit from the latest Wifi technology deployed in-country,” said David Behr, chief product officer at Liquid Telecom
The service will initially launch in eight countries across Africa for a fixed monthly fee. The operator will also integrate its existing managed Wi-Fi customer base, along with its own portfolio of public Wifi networks, into the platform over the coming months.
“Wi-Fi that works for both staff and visitors is critical in the corporate environment, while reliable free Wifi is also becoming an expectation of visitors and customers to many venues.
“Insights into customer behaviour leads to an enhanced customer experience, driving additional sales and enabling new revenue streams through proximity marketing, which in turn pays for the Wifi service,” added Ellie Hagopian, head of Wifi strategy at Liquid Telecom.
