Decoding WiFi Hotspots: Meaning, Categories, Security, Range, and Prices

What are hotspots, and why have they been trending over the last decade? To answer your question in simple words - WiFi hotspots are nothing but internet access points that allow users to connect to a WiFi network using any device of his/her choice. The hotspot technology can make you connect to a WiFi network even when you are away from a home or office internet network.

We are writing this article to help you truly understand the concept of hotspots. We will avoid using technical jargon and keep our content simple, easy, and to the point. You can expect topics like what WiFi hotspot is, its types, security concerns, and the different providers available to Indian users.

Let us kickstart the explanation!

What is WiFi Hotspot, and why is it gaining popularity?

Hotspots can be summed up as physical locations that provide internet access to the users present in that specific zone. Eateries such as coffee houses were the first few places where the trend of using WiFi hotspots commenced. Today, this trend has been forwarded to places like airports, malls, hotels, and others where people gather or assemble.

Many cities, organizations, and even businesses now offer WiFi hotspots for public use. This initiative gives the users easy and convenient access to faster internet speed than their respective cellular networks.

Not to forget that we have been highly dependent on internet usage since the starting of the pandemic. With the digital world we live in, having hotpots is often a necessity rather than a want.

Today, product or service promotions are more efficient in the digital world than in the physical world. Therefore, high internet speed is something that businesses cannot neglect no matter what.

Now that we have a basic understanding of what WiFi hotspots essentially are, let us dive into the types of hotspots available at your disposal.

Types of WiFi Hotspots

Although the workings of all WiFi hotspots are mainly similar, we do have a few different types available to us. These types also have noticeable differences in their properties which will be discussed next.

We have broadly classified hotspots into three (3) categories for your easy understanding, namely Free or Public hotspot, mobile hotspot, and portable hotspot.

1. Free WiFi Hotspot/ Public WiFi Hotspot

As the name suggests, free or public hotspots are usually free to use. Eateries like cafes or places like libraries or stores may offer public WiFi connections to those inside the property. At times, this hotspot service may be provided to you to complement some other service that you have bought. For example, a restaurant owner may offer complimentary hotspots to its customers.

These providers might have a predefined bandwidth limit for each user, so you will heavily rely on the router owners for speeds.

If you wish to, you can also connect to somebody else’s free WiFi hotspot if it is left unsecured. Again, this means that you are relying on the owner. You will also be compromising your security by using someone’s hotspot.

2. Mobile WiFi Hotspot

We are sure that you might have used your smartphone as a hotspot in times when there was no sign on WiFi around your location, the electricity went off, or when your WiFi was dysfunctional or not providing high speed. Smartphone users can easily use cellular data to make A WiFi hotspot of their own! Upon activating this feature on your phone, you can connect other devices such as tablets and laptops to the internet.

These days you can also purchase built-in mobile hotspots, which are specially designed to turn cellular data networks into high-speed WiFi.

3. Portable WiFi Hotspot

A portable hotspot brings the internet to you instead you trying to look for one in your location. The mechanism of portable hotspots is instead an interesting one.

Portable hotspots are devices with mobile routers within them. Several devices can be connected to a single hotspot without having to download any additional application.

Though portable hotspots are easy solutions, users have to carry them with themselves all the time. Moreover, the internet speed may not be as fast as you are used to.

WiFi Hotspot Security

Cybersecurity is an uncompromised element of smooth and secured internet usage. Users should vary hotspot providers that may compromise their cyber safety to keep them satisfied with high-speed internet. A crucial figure of cybersecurity is encryption. If your wireless connection is encrypted, then hackers will not be able to access your data.

The data flowing from WiFi hotspot to your devices may not be encrypted. Moreover, cyberattackers have also been found to creating fake hotspot sites to hacking personal information.

Below are a few tips that you to consider when making efforts to protect your personal information while using WiFi hotspots:

• Always buy a hotspot device that has data encryption
• While using others’ hotspot, say no to visiting sensitive sites like banking
• Use multiple user names and passwords to ensure the security of your sensitive personal information
• ALWAYS Keep your hotspots password-protected to prevent piggybackers from consuming your data.

WiFi Hotspot Providers in India

India’s massive telecom industry has given birth to cut-throat competition amongst internet providers. We have access to 3G and 4G WiFi hotspots provided by various telecom players like Airtel, Jio, Vodafone, BSNL, and others. These companies provide hotspot recharge packs and dongles (another name for portable hotspots) to its 1.3 billion Indian population.

Airtel WiFi Hotspot

Here is a list of Airtel’s best data recharge plans for 4G dongles