Why do we not have WiFi available in more retail locations?

We live in the information age where people can find an answer to almost any question by connecting to the Internet. Internet has, in a way, become a drug. As a society, we are addicted to the spoils of the Internet, be it in the field of entertainment, news, business, arts. We depend on the ability to go online to check email from our clients, friends and family; connect to a database with the information for work; search for a location of a place we need to visit; we watch television and our favorite shows online; we check the status of our flight online as well as book a hotel, buy a watch, order a book, etc., etc., etc.
We can perform an ever-growing array of activities online. Hence, we have become so accustomed to this reality that we now expect Internet to be available everywhere.
Some businesses like coffee shops and large fast food restaurant chains depend on this technology. Universities and shopping centers have Wi-Fi for free.
Since people use mobile apps when they shop, they want Wi-Fi to be available in grocery stores, drug and department stores, etc.
I expect it to be available in more places. For example, after returning from the trip to Kiev where cellular and Wi-Fi networks can be accessed in the subway - keep in mind that the subway in Kiev is buried deep in the ground beneath the city - I get thefeeling that we are being short changed here in Toronto with no such convenient services available in the TTC.
After reading the article "Overcoming the Challenges of Retail Wi-Fi" in Wall Street Journal this week, I have a clearer picture why Wi-Fi is not available 'everywhere', certainly not at every retail chain.
Here are some hurdles to making Wi-Fi ubiquitous:
 1. rolling out Wi-Fi to a network of stores is among the most capital intensive and complex projects IT departments will tackle this decade
2. Optimizing the bandwidth/speed and ensuring its compatibility with receiving devices
3.  Complexity involved in gauging real costs of installing: most in-house IT departments lack expertise here.
4. Real costs include but not limited to hardware and connectivity, managing different building and electrical codes, varying regional labor laws and the full impact of business disruption in stores
5. Putting Wi-Fi into a large commercial environment involves a series of complex design decisions


Some benefits for retailers: improve employee productivity and customer satisfaction


http://blogs.wsj.com/cio/2013/01/28/overcoming-the-challenges-of-retail-wi-fi/?mod=dist_smartbrief



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