What a professional hotel WiFi network needs

1. Coverage where guests sleep, not in the corridor

Many hotels place access points in corridors. With doors and thick walls, the signal struggles to reach inside the room. A coverage survey determines whether you need one access point per room, one per two rooms or another layout.

2. Capacity for peak times

In the evening, every guest connects several devices and streams video. The network must be designed for high density: well-planned channels, professional access points and bandwidth shared per device.

3. Separate networks

Guests, reception, administration, POS, cameras and IoT devices should be on separate networks (VLANs). It improves security and stops a problem in one from affecting the others.

4. Easy access for guests

A clear password in the room or a simple captive portal, in several languages. Consider what information is requested and how it's handled, in line with data protection rules.

5. Management and monitoring

A central console shows the status of every access point, sends alerts and lets you fix issues remotely, often before the guest notices.

6. Why it matters even more in Andorra

Andorra is not in the EU, and each visitor's roaming terms depend on their operator. Many guests rely on the hotel WiFi to work, make video calls or plan their stay.

Before replacing equipment, get an audit: existing cabling can often be reused and the problem is in the design.

The coverage survey

Before installation, coverage is measured or simulated on the floor plans, allowing for walls, bathrooms, lifts and floor slabs. The result shows how many access points are needed and where. Placing them "by eye" in the corridor is behind most complaints.

Cabling matters as much as WiFi

• A network cable to each access point, ideally in or beside the room.
• PoE switches that power them without extra sockets.
• Links between floors with enough capacity, preferably fibre.
• A tidy, ventilated rack with a UPS.

The internet connection

Perfect WiFi is no use with an inadequate connection. Size the fibre for peak occupancy, share bandwidth so one guest can't hog the network, and have a second line or 4G/5G backup for payments, bookings and the front desk.

Separate networks, for automation and video too

As well as guests and staff, it's worth separating cameras, TVs, telephony and room control. That way a fault or security issue on one network doesn't affect the others.

What to measure once it's running

• Number of devices per access point at peak times.
• Access points that are down or suffering interference.
• Bandwidth use per network.
• Complaints by room, to spot weak areas.

Common mistakes

• Access points only in corridors.
• Consumer repeaters added over the years.
• One network for guests, tills and cameras.
• Nobody responsible for monitoring and updating the network.

Upgrading without closing the hotel

The upgrade can be done floor by floor or wing by wing, in low season, keeping the old network running in parallel until the switch is complete.