Mobile Hotspots: Expectations vs Reality

A hotspot is a physical location where people can access Wi-Fi through a wireless local area network (WLAN). The WLAN is connected by a router and the router is connected to an Internet Service Provider.

Wi-Fi was first created to be a technology built around one basic service — data transmission. It was located almost exclusively in areas where there were many inactive subscribers. However, over the past 10 years, there has been one big change in the generation of Wi-Fi standards. The modem.

All international business travelers want to know where the best mobile hotspots are located and how to select the best international mobile hotspots.

International Bands: The Ones That Matter the Most

There are 3 LTE bands that are widely used throughout the world. This is essential if you hope to have LTE coverage while traveling internationally.

• Band 3 – 1800 MHz, used in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, Caribbean, Europe, Middle East, Oceania
• Band 7 – 2600 MHz, used in South America, Asia, Europe, Middle East, Australia
• Band 20 – 800 MHz, used in Africa, Europe, Middle East

Digital nomads are restricted to working in areas where their technologies operate properly. Finding a decent Wi-Fi hotspot in every area of the country you’re located in is a difficult thing. People assume there’s Wi-Fi on every corner, but a poor connection is always a possibility, and using public Wi-Fi is not always a safe option either.

Traveling to a new location without securing a reliable connection can be costly. There might be a chance of dropped calls, failed uploads, and increased stress levels.

Research the Wi-Fi situation before you arrive. This could mean contacting your accommodations and asking for speed tests (yes, you can do that).

The Cost Of Freedom

Digital nomads often find themselves caught off-guard by international roaming charges because they don’t know how these charges are applied. They’ll spend a few days using their devices, as usual, thinking they’ll be charged the same as always and not for international roaming.

If you’re not paying attention, global roaming charges will sneak up on you with some astronomical increases to your monthly cell phone bill.

When you use your cell phone overseas, you’re typically using towers that belong to a mobile carrier other than the one you signed your contract with. These network providers have a commercial agreement with your regular service provider that allows you to connect to their towers.

This agreement works out great for your home provider because they get to keep you as a customer and make a little extra money in the process.

For you, it doesn’t work out so well. It offers the convenience of being able to use your devices in a way that appears hassle-free.

But, this convenience comes at a price.