Set in tranquil surroundings close to the beach, Barney Beach Accommodation specialises in providing a ‘one stop shop’ for corporate, shutdown and maintenance companies. A superior accommodation and meal service is provided for work teams.
Offering unparalleled levels of consistency and quality, many of Barney Beach Accommodation’s clients are employed by national and multi-national companies engaged in contract work in Gladstone, with roles ranging from technical tradespeople through to senior management.
The Problem
Whilst guests enjoy excellent customer service, dining and facilities, management felt they could improve their existing WiFi service. As a result of this, Barney Beach contacted Netbright in 2022 to explore solutions for expanding the guest WiFi experience.
Based on a review of the existing site network, Netbright found the following issues were hindering performance:
- The existing network was based on outdoor access points, however there was significant signal loss to any device connecting internally from a guest’s unit – for example, a laptop or smartphone.
- Some access points connected directly via optical fibre to the central office, however other access points connected via a mesh, reducing the available shared capacity over each successive hop.
As part of the property’s ongoing maintenance and expansion program to improve entertainment services in units, Smart TVs were being installed into each unit. This would further enhance the ability for video streaming and gaming in rooms. As a result of Internet limitations, guests were not receiving excellent service performance, leading to negative customer feedback.
Netbright's Solution
Whilst there is optical fibre cabling across Barney Beach Accommodation Centre, it was determined that extending the wired network to all 85 units would cause significant disruption due to the need for civil construction and installation of cable ducts. Netbright therefore proposed a hybrid fibre and wireless solution to improve coverage and performance to all 85 accommodation units. The solution involved:
- Extending the fibre network to a number of strategic points on the campus, providing the basis for connecting a set number of units (10-15) from base stations.
- Wirelessly connecting each unit back to its nearest base station, as well as deploying internal access points to provide optimal coverage within units.
- Integrating the hybrid network solution with the Internet connection at the office, ensuring good performance and sharing of Internet bandwidth amongst guests.
Netbright provided the design, configuration and provisioning of the network solution using our Professional WIFi product. We worked closely with Barney Beach Accommodation management and site contractors to deliver the solution in three phases, consisting of:
- An initial trial network to demonstrate the coverage and performance that could be achieved using the proposed technology.
- A second phase that leveraged the existing fibre connectivity to extend the new wireless distribution network, including connecting units occupied by VIP guests.
- A final phase that extended the optical fibre network to new locations, connecting the remainder of the 85 units.
The Outcome
Since deployment of the solution, the guest WiFi experience has significantly improved, allowing guests to access Internet services with the speed and convenience they expect. Complaints about the guest WiFi service are a thing of the past; now only compliments are heard by management.
Ultimately, Barney Beach Accommodation has delivered an enhanced overall guest experience, including a complimentary high-speed internet access. This has resulted in improved customer satisfaction and repeat accommodation business.
Learn more about Netbright’s Professional WiFi Solution or reach out and contact us to discuss your requirements today.