How much will WiFi cost us?" is the first question we hear from hotel managers. The answer depends on many factors, and the difference between a poorly designed and a properly designed network can amount to hundreds of thousands of Kč in unnecessary costs or poor guest reviews.
In this article, we provide real figures from projects we have implemented in hotels in Prague, explain the differences between systems and show where savings are possible and where they are not.
How much does WiFi for a hotel cost: price overview
Prices vary depending on the size of the hotel, the chosen system, the condition of the infrastructure and the required quality. Indicative range:
| Hotel type | Number of rooms | System | Total price (hardware + installation) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small guesthouse/B&B | 5–20 rooms | Ubiquiti UniFi | 50 000-120 000 Kč |
| Medium-sized hotel | 20-60 rooms | Ubiquiti / Ruckus | 150 000-400 000 Kč |
| Large 4-star hotel | 60–150 rooms | Ruckus / Cisco Meraki | 400 000-900 000 Kč |
| Luxury 5-star hotel | 150+ rooms | Cisco Meraki / Aruba | 900 000-2 500 000 Kč |
* Prices are indicative and include hardware, installation and basic configuration. They do not include internet connection or annual management.
System comparison: Ubiquiti vs Cisco Meraki vs Ruckus
Ubiquiti UniFi: best price-to-performance ratio for smaller hotels
Ubiquiti UniFi is a popular choice for hotels with up to 60 rooms. The UniFi U6 Pro access point costs approximately 4 500-6 000 Kč, supports 4×4 MIMO Wi-Fi 6 and up to 300 concurrent devices. Management via the central UniFi console or cloud. Disadvantage: support is community-based, not enterprise, if something fails, there is no 0800 line with an SLA.
Ruckus: mid-range with excellent signal in dense environments
Ruckus is a specialist for hotels: their BeamFlex technology adaptively shapes the signal, which is crucial in buildings with a high density of devices and thick walls. The Ruckus R750 costs approximately 12 000-15 000 Kč per AP. For a hotel with 60 rooms, the hardware alone amounts to 900 000+ Kč. This is offset by exceptional stability and fewer guest complaints regarding WiFi.
Cisco Meraki: enterprise without problems, but with annual licences
Meraki is the de facto standard for large hotels and chains. Key advantage: cloud management, clear reports, integrated security monitoring. Key disadvantage: annual licensing fees (a Meraki MR AP licence costs 3 000-8 000 Kč/year/AP). For 100 APs this amounts to 300 000-800 000 Kč per year for licences alone, excluding hardware and installation. When the licence expires, the AP stops working.
Hidden costs that hotels overlook
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Wiring and cable routes - if the hotel lacks data cabling in the rooms (or has outdated Cat5e), add 50 000–300 000 Kč for new cabling. In historic buildings in Prague 1, cabling can be the main budget item.
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Internet connection - A dedicated WiFi network is pointless without a high-quality internet connection. A hotel with 60 rooms requires at least 500 Mbit/s symmetric, ideally 1 Gbit/s with redundancy. Price: 3 000-12 000 Kč/month in Prague.
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Management and monitoring - The network requires regular monitoring, firmware updates and a rapid response to outages. Outsourced management costs 2 000-8 000 Kč/month, while an internal IT specialist costs 50 000-80 000 Kč/month.
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Hotspot/captive portal - To collect guest contacts, ensure GDPR compliance (logging access is a legal requirement) and support marketing, you need a captive portal. Price: 500–2 000 Kč/month for a cloud solution.
How to save without compromising on quality
The most common mistake we see in hotels trying to save money is fewer access points with higher output. The result? Dead zones in corridors, issues switching between APs and poor signal during the mass movement of guests after morning check-out.
Where to save for real:
- ✅ Project phasing - start with guest rooms and the lobby, add conference halls in the second phase
- ✅ Infrastructure sharing - one core switch with VLANs for WiFi, PMS and cameras instead of three separate networks
- ✅ Open-source controller - UniFi Network Controller on your server instead of a cloud licence
- ✅ Refurbished hardware - certified refurbished hardware for network spare parts
WiFi as a competitive advantage: what the data says
According to an analysis of reviews on Booking.com and TripAdvisor for hotels in Prague:
- 📊 WiFi is in top 3 factors affecting the hotel's score (alongside cleanliness and staff)
- 📊 Hotels with a WiFi rating of 9+ have on average 18% more repeat bookings
- 📊 Every WiFi complaint in a review reduces the conversion rate from browsing to booking by 6-9 %
An investment of 200 000 Kč in a quality WiFi network that eliminates complaints typically pays for itself within 6-18 months, depending on the average room rate and hotel occupancy.
How we proceed with designing WiFi for hotels
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RF survey and heat map - We measure existing coverage and identify problem areas. Result: an accurate plan for the placement of indoor units.
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Architecture design and hardware selection - We will recommend a system that matches the size and budget of the hotel. We never propose unnecessarily expensive solutions.
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Installation and configuration - ideally carried out during periods of lower occupancy (January–February, or by agreement in stages).
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Network segmentation and GDPR - we will isolate guests from the operational network, configure a captive portal with logging, and prepare documentation for GDPR compliance.
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Monitoring and support - 24/7 availability monitoring, average response time to outage: 2 hours in Prague.
Are you interested in an indicative price for your hotel?
Send us the number of rooms and building type. We will prepare a free indicative quotation within 24 hours. No obligation.
I would like an indicative quotation