UPC Wi-Free: what is the use of free internet?

1. How does Wi-Free work?

With Wi-Free, UPC Internet customers can surf for free on the go and without a mobile internet. Here’s how it works: users provide their own router as a hotspot for nearby Wi-Free users. In return, they can also use the routers of other participants in Switzerland, Europe and the USA as a hotspot.

2. Does UPC Wi-Free slow down my internet at home?

UPC (new Sunrise) activates a separate network on the routers. The speed is 5 Mbps downstream and 500 Kbps upstream. The additional Internet service is provided by UPC. Internet speed on your home network is not affected.

3. Is UPC Wi-Free safe?

Wi-Free has the same level of security as your private network. This makes it safer than public Wi-Fi. No one can see the web activities that take place over the Wi-Free network. At the same time, other Wi-Free users cannot access your home network through the service.

4. What are the disadvantages of UPC Wi-Free?

There are around 500,000 hotspot locations in Switzerland and over 10 million Wi-Fi-free locations in Europe and the USA. That sounds like a lot. With a maximum radius of 100 meters per hotspot, UPC Wi-Free provides a rather sparse network coverage.

Added to this is the very low internet speed. As you get further away from the hotspot, the internet becomes even slower.

5. Conclusion: innovative idea, but poor coverage

Behind UPC Wi-Free is an innovative idea. Nevertheless, the service is not an attractive alternative to a flat mobile internet rate for most today. There are too few Wi-Fi free hotspots for it. They are also slower than the Swiss mobile network.

Would you like to avoid high roaming costs during the holidays with UPC Wi-Free? Then the supply abroad is likely to be too thin. If this changes in the future, Wi-Free will become an interesting option for UPC Internet customers – especially if they have limited data volume at home or abroad and are looking for cost-effective solutions.