Frequently Asked Questions
Publicroam is based on WPA2-Enterprise and RADIUS authentication. Participating organizations connect their Wi-Fi network to publicroam’s top-level RADIUS server and broadcast the SSID ‘publicroam’ from their access points. A visitor’s device with a publicroam account automatically connects to the access point and sends its login details—encrypted—to the top-level RADIUS server. The credentials are verified and, if correct, an approval is sent to the participating organization. The visitor is then granted access to the local guest Wi-Fi network.
A visitor requests a publicroam account once via publicroam.nl or by texting a code to +31 970 10 260 261. They receive their personal login details (username and password) by SMS. After a one-time activation, they will go online automatically everywhere. Requesting and activating an account is free. You need a mobile phone with a SIM card that can receive SMS messages. Publicroam also works with foreign SIM cards.
You can unsubscribe at any time by sending an SMS to publicroam (+31 970 10 260 261) with the text AFMELDEN (not case-sensitive).
For help requesting an account and activating it, visitors can contact the publicroam support desk by email or phone. The website also offers an extensive FAQ. In our experience, support requests are limited; most visitors don’t need help to log in.
When a visitor signs up for the first time, they agree to the terms of use. These include that the account is personal, that it’s not intended to stay continuously online at an organization, and that the user follows common netiquette, etc. If a visitor engages in illegal activities on a guest network, data may be handed over to the competent authorities.
Publicroam puts privacy first. When a visitor signs up for the first time, they are asked to agree to the privacy statement. Among other things, it states that:
– publicroam and participating organizations process personal data with care;
– data are processed solely to enable the visitor to connect safely and easily to Wi-Fi guest networks;
– the collection of personal data is limited to what is necessary for the purposes for which they are processed.
Data storage is temporary. Usage data are retained for a maximum of 3 months; account data are kept for up to 6 months after an account has been cancelled. Organizations that offer publicroam sign a data processing agreement that sets out how data are processed and who is responsible.
Yes—provided it is technically possible and the organization signs an agreement with publicroam confirming that it meets the requirements, including those related to data processing and privacy.
Publicroam, together with its technical partners, supports connecting a guest Wi-Fi network to publicroam. Once an organization is connected, the publicroam support desk is available in case of incidents. Support arrangements are set out in the SLA, which is part of the service agreement.
Yes. People with a foreign mobile number can request and activate a publicroam account.
Publicroam provides a comprehensive communication kit that organizations can use to inform their staff and visitors.
No. At this time, networks outside the Netherlands cannot join publicroam. This will change in the future.
Yes. Email us at info@publicroam.nl or call +31 30 307 44 99 and we’ll put you in touch with an organization that has experience with publicroam.
So far, our experience is that almost everyone who signs up can activate their account easily using the information in the email and the detailed support pages on our website.