Leader: Why we need 'Fair Wi-fi'

Since silicon.com raised the issue of rip-off wi-fi charges in hotels, we've been inundated with vocal support from readers who agree the extortionate charges made by hotels need to be consigned to the history books.

Business travellers now rely upon connectivity and a culture in which ubiquitous wi-fi is seen as a given is fast developing. The workforce is going that way and the IT industry is too.

Excessive costs for wi-fi are not only at odds with the direction the rest of the world is going, they are entirely unjustified.

This is why silicon.com has launched its 'Fair Wi-fi' campaign.

The issue isn't just about the cost, especially when many of us might expense those charges. The trouble is, while we may be able to afford it - begrudgingly - we are also able to see when we are being fleeced and it doesn't make you feel like a valued customer.

Many hotels don't publicise their wi-fi charges with bookings sites or even on their own websites, making it difficult for guests to make informed choices ahead of checking in. This means these extortionate charges are stealthily imposed on customers who need to work. That simply isn't fair.

In time, more people will find out which hotels aren't charging extortionate fees and they will vote with their feet. But we don't believe the market or the UK's reputation can wait for nature to take its course.

It's also unfair for hotels to pitch themselves as business travel destinations and yet fail utterly to understand one of the most important requirements of their customers.

This campaign is about services not moving with the times, about regular business travellers subsidising services like gyms which are covered by their room charge while being forced by the hotel to pay through the nose for wi-fi access.

It's about a rip-off which needs to be more clearly publicised.

We appreciate hotels have a right to make money. We're not soon going to start demanding free food and drink. We're not going to stop tipping the concierge and bell desk and we're not even going to complain about the room rates - many of which should easily be able to cover the cost of providing wi-fi.

By running this campaign, we hope to undermine some of the myths that persist about the cost to hotels of providing such services and to increase the pressure on hotels to realise the days of being able to overcharge for wi-fi are coming to an end.

We hope to inform consumers and to provide a common voice for those who want hotels to know they must move with the times or risk losing the lucrative repeat bookings of business travellers.

Most of all we want you to join us in making this campaign a success.

Please sign our petition and give your support to this campaign.