Manchester Airport (MHT) Launches Wi-Fi Service
June 10 2004 - 9:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Manchester Airport (MHT) Launches Wi-Fi Service 'Neutral Host'
Solution by ICOA Serves Travelers as well as Airport Operations and
Tenants MANCHESTER, N.H., and WARWICK, R.I., June 10
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Manchester Airport (MHT) and Airport
Network Solutions (ANS), a subsidiary of ICOA, Inc. (OTC:ICOA)
(BULLETIN BOARD: ICOA) , announced today the unveiling of a new
"Neutral Host" high speed broadband wireless network throughout the
entire airport designed to serve its more than four million
passengers per year, as well as airlines and other airport tenants.
The new neutral host high speed broadband wireless Internet network
offers passengers at Manchester Airport secure, affordable and
convenient wireless Internet access from anywhere in the terminal,
while also providing airport administration and operations
functions, airlines and airport concessionaires with WLAN
capability for operational applications and services. "We are
excited to partner with ANS to offer high-speed wireless Internet
access for our airline passengers at Manchester Airport," said
Airport Director Kevin A. Dillon. "This new WLAN system also
provides convenient and efficient wireless solutions for all our
airport tenants and creates new opportunities for the airport.
Manchester Airport has long been committed to providing outstanding
customer service and cost effective services that improve
productivity, reduce costs and enhance our passenger's travel
experience. The addition of public wireless Internet access is a
natural extension of this continuing commitment." Passengers with
Wi-Fi enabled laptops or PDAs can connect to the Internet to check
their e-mail, access their corporate servers, download important
documents and surf the Web from anywhere in the airport for only
$6.95 per day. Airport information such as flight schedules and
security bulletins can also be accessed at no charge. The new
public wireless Internet service is available throughout the entire
terminal and does not require users to install or use proprietary
software. As a 'neutral host' network, the Manchester Airport/ANS
solution will also allow subscribers of branded services access to
the network through access agreements with ANS. "Manchester is the
fifth airport to activate our wireless airport solution," said Rick
Schiffmann, CEO of ICOA's ANS subsidiary. "While isolated wireless
hotspots can be found in some larger airports, the Manchester
solution conveniently covers the entire airport. Our airport-wide
approach makes it more convenient for passengers to connect
instantly in all public areas of the airport rather than having to
'sniff out' limited hotspots. The Manchester Airport/ANS solution
improves convenience and productivity for all passengers." The new
Wi-Fi infrastructure was designed, deployed and managed by ICOA's
subsidiary ANS under an exclusive agreement with Manchester Airport
(MHT). Amherst Technologies of Merrimack, New Hampshire, a leading
provider of IT solutions, provided ANS with site design and network
deployment. Manchester Airport is ICOA's fifth full airport neutral
host deployment, with previously announced Wi-Fi network operations
in the Greater Baton Rouge, Louisiana Airport (BTR),
Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) in Savannah,
Georgia, Fresno-Yosemite International Airport (FYI) and Sacramento
International Airport (SMF). With the deployment of MHT, ICOA's
Airport Network Solutions now serves over 18 million airport
passengers per year. About Manchester Airport (MHT) Manchester
Airport is the largest commercial passenger and cargo airport in
northern New England. The rapidly growing airport now welcomes over
four million passengers each year and is served by 13 airlines
offering over 90 daily departures. Strategically located in the
heart of New England, Manchester Airport is just twenty minutes
from the Massachusetts border and less than an hour's drive from
the region's most popular ski areas, scenic seacoast beaches and
peaceful lakefront resorts -- even Boston. Easy access, competitive
airfares, ample parking and a growing schedule of non-stop jet
service make Manchester Airport the convenient alternative to
Boston's Logan International Airport. About ICOA, Inc. ICOA, Inc.,
(OTCBB: ICOA) located in Warwick, RI, is a provider of neutral host
wireless and wired broadband Internet networks in public locations.
Airport Network Solutions, a subsidiary of ICOA, Inc, provides
design, installation, operations, maintenance and management of
neutral, common-use 802.11x standard WLAN (or WiFi) infrastructure
throughout airport facilities for use by the traveling public,
airlines and airport authority vendors. ICOA also owns and operates
private networks of Wi-Fi Hot Spots, Wi-Fi Hot Zones, and High
Speed Internet Terminals (WebCenter3000(TM)). ICOA currently
operates or manages over 330 installations, including 250 Panera
Bread locations, the San Francisco International Airport (SFO), the
Greater Baton Rouge, Louisiana Airport (BTR), Sacramento
International Airport (SMF), Savannah/Hilton Head International
Airport (SAV), Fresno-Yosemite International Airport (FYI) and
Rhode Island's Newport Harbor 'Hot Zone'. For additional
information, please visit http://www.icoacorp.com/. "Safe Harbor"
The foregoing contains "forward-looking statements" which are based
on management's beliefs as well as on a number of assumptions
concerning future events and information currently available to
management. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such
forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of
performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other
factors, many of which are outside ICOA's control that could cause
actual results to differ materially from such statements. For a
more detailed description of the factors that could cause such a
difference, please see ICOA's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. ICOA disclaims any intention or obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise. This
information is presented solely to provide additional information
to further understand the results of ICOA. DATASOURCE: Manchester
Airport; ICOA, Inc. CONTACT: J. Brian O'Neill of Manchester
Airport, +1-603-624-6339 ext. 324, ; or John K. Balbach of ICOA,
Inc., +1-415-999-1468 (mobile), Web site: http://www.icoacorp.com/
http://www.flymanchester.com/
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