What is typically required for a customer to access Wi-Fi in a public place?

In many public venues, such as cafes, airports, or hotels, accessing Wi-Fi often requires customers to log in and subscribe to the service. This process might involve creating a user account or agreeing to terms and conditions, which may be communicated through a landing page after connecting to the network. Subscribing can be in various forms, such as providing an email address, completing a survey, or even attending to payment if the service is not free.

While entering a security key can be necessary for some secured networks, it does not capture the wider practice that often involves some form of login or subscription process, especially in public places where open access is less common or has certain limitations. A data plan purchase is irrelevant in the context of using Wi-Fi, as it normally pertains to mobile cellular services. Additionally, turning on airplane mode is counterproductive to accessing any type of network since it disables all wireless communications. Therefore, the essence of many public Wi-Fi services revolves around the requirement for customers to log in and subscribe in some manner to ensure proper access and usage tracking.