I recently switched to Xfinity for my home internet after being a Comcast business customer since we moved into our office in Castle Rock, CO. (Xfinity is the residential brand for Comcast, so I will refer to both Xfinity and Comcast in this little blog post.) I work on the road frequently as I tote teenagers to lots of sports and other activities and I discovered a great network of Xfinity hotspots that seemed to be magically available almost everywhere I want to work. I have found these free hotspots to be a great perk and it is one of the reasons I recommend Comcast business internet to my clients. However, I never gave much thought to how Comcast was providing the hotspots until I connected my Xfinity home internet and voila, an Xfinity hotspot magically appeared! Then it dawned on me that Xfinity's network of hotspots was built on the hardware of Comcast's business and residential customers!
So, how do these Xfinity WiFi public hotspots work? Simply put, Xfinity makes use of their existing infrastructure, including equipment in their customers' homes and businesses, to provide access to these public hotspots. This means that if you are an Xfinity or Comcast business customer with a compatible modem and router, your network can also be used as a public hotspot for others to connect to. This is an "opt out" service, meaning it is automatically enabled for new service and you have to opt out if you don't want your hardware to be used in providing a public hotspot. This is made possible by a separate secondary network that is created on the same router and can be easily accessed by anyone with an Xfinity residential or Comcast business account.
Having access to these public hotspots can come with several advantages for both users and businesses alike. First, it helps alleviate pressure on cellular data plans, as users can connect to the free WiFi instead of using up their allocated data. This can be especially beneficial for businesses with thousands of employees who use mobile devices as part of their daily routine. It's also beneficial for smaller business, such as restaurants, that are generally expected to provide public WiFi and are relying more and more on WiFi for things like digital menus. Additionally, public hotspots help to create a more connected community, allowing individuals to work or communicate while on-the-go (such as in my case).
Despite the benefits of having your public hotspot available, there are still reasons why some users may choose to disable this feature. One major reason is security concerns. While Xfinity ensures that these public hotspots are secure, there is still a small risk of unauthorized access to personal information. Another reason is the potential impact on internet speed and bandwidth. If several people are using your public hotspot at once, it can slow down your home network and affect your own internet connection. Although, again, Xfinity states that the chances of the speed being affected on your home or business network are very minimal.
I gave some thought to whether or not I wanted to keep my public hotspots available and I've decided to keep our public hotspot available at our business which is in the downtown area of Castle Rock and I've disabled it at home. On one hand, I have reaped the benefits of this public network of hotspots and feel that I should pay it forward, in a manner of speaking. I've used it most, personally, in commercially developed areas, so that is why I kept it enabled at our business. On the other hand, I don't see the need to provide a WiFi hotspot in my residential neighborhood, so that is why I've disabled it at home. I will give my guests access to my guest network if the need arises. All in all, I see many great advantages to this network of hotspots!
Read more here from Xfinity: Xfinity WiFi Home Hotspots FAQs - Xfinity Support
If you would like a quote for Comcast business (with or without the public hotspot feature!), please call me, text me, or send me an email or connect with me on LinkedIn!