Global business travel spending and hotel demand remains steady, and remote work is on the rise, according to an economic report by Upwork. That means more people will be working from home or on the go in the future, mixing work and personal time even while traveling.
On the road, when traveling for bleisure – a word coined to describe the trend of combined business and leisure travel – the need for fast, reliable, and secure WiFi is imperative. A hotel’s 5-star rating, glowing guest reviews and long list of amenities don’t necessarily equate to a stellar WiFi experience. The quality of a property’s WiFi can make or break your entire trip if you can’t get your work done, stay connected with friends and family or unwind with your favorite apps.
It may be tempting to turn to a public WiFi network during a bleisure trip – like the networks offered from a hotel, airport lounge or local cafe – but they pose a serious security risk. While convenient, free public connections are not worth risking your confidential business or personal information. If you’re not on a private network, you’re immediately at risk of intrusion. Unencrypted WiFi is a major concern to businesses, which is why many companies and government employers currently require devices such as mobile hotspots to help secure critical and confidential data.
So, what can you do to ensure you have access to powerful, secure WiFi wherever you go? The best thing to do is bring your own. You may consider using your mobile phone as a hotspot, which is a good option, but it could impact your ability to make voice calls and can easily drain your battery. Another option, and certainly the best route to guarantee capacity, security, speed, and to support more than one device while traveling, is investing in a dedicated mobile router or hotspot.
The Nighthawk M6 Pro hotspot from NETGEAR is a palm-sized powerhouse that fits neatly into your carryon alongside your iPad, noise-canceling headphones and other travel essentials.
The unlocked M6 Pro is purpose built for secure mobile WiFi and ultra-fast speeds. It supports international roaming in more than 125 countries around the world. Domestically, you can add it to your current data plan and simply connect to the internet using a 5G/4G SIM card. Abroad, you can purchase a pre-paid SIM, usually from a vending machine, as soon as you land.
If you have friends or family joining you on the trip, this hotspot can cover them all. The M6 Pro provides a portable, private WiFi connection with a built-in firewall for up to 32 devices. People connected to the hotspot can enjoy uninterrupted video streaming, Zoom calls, social media, and large file uploads/downloads, all at the same time and without the risk of intrusion – for up to 13 hours on a single charge.
As a bonus, the hotspot’s onboard USB-C port can also be used to charge your devices or as an ultra-fast wired connection to a computer or laptop. So, skip the portable battery chargers and make the most of a combined portable hotspot and charger. Afterall, international or busy airports can limit your access to an outlet for a quick charge.
The M6 Pro is not only suitable for on-the-go use but also for vacation homes, especially in rural areas that lack reliable wired broadband internet. If you’re looking for better WiFi coverage in your second home or luxury rental property, the router can boost WiFi coverage up to 2,000 square feet with In-Home Performance Mode, which can be activated simply by removing the battery and using the power adapter. In larger homes, the hotspot can provide WiFi through an existing WiFi router. Additionally, for locations where cellular signal is not strong, external antennas can be purchased and used to increase 5G reception when plugged into the antenna ports.
The M6 Pro is built to deliver premium WiFi performance and groundbreaking speeds which all bleisure travelers require. Whether you’re traveling to a Mediterranean resort or spending time in your mountainside cabin, you can count on Nighthawk M6 Pro to provide a great WiFi experience, so you don’t miss a beat between work and play.
