Stronger Signals Ahead: CLT Set to Boost Public Wi-Fi

Trying to stream that movie while waiting at the gate? Need to download that photo or email attachment? It will soon be even faster and easier to access Wi-Fi at the Airport.

Wi-Fi at CLT is getting a $5.9 million boost – a complete overhaul and replacement of the existing public Wi-Fi system in the Airport terminal.

Charlotte City Council has approved a three-year contract with GC&E Systems Group, located in Atlanta, GA.

“Passengers can expect better coverage throughout most of the public-facing areas of the terminal,” according to Norvell Barber, CLT Director of Technology. “Overall bandwidth is increasing as well, allowing for faster connection speeds and streaming capabilities.”

Usage skyrocketing

To put the need in perspective, over a 90-day period from early October 2025 to early January 2026, CLT transmitted more than 579 terabytes of data to users of phones, tablets, laptops and other devices. (One Terabyte = 1,000 gigabytes)

“If you think about it in these terms, a typical hour-long Netflix show uses around 3 gigabytes for high-definition streaming,” explained Jason Varner, CLT Technology Infrastructure Manager. “So that’s around 333 hour-long shows inside of each terabyte. So, 579 terabytes of data are equivalent to approximately 193,000 hours of HD streaming. It’s a TON of data!”

During the same 90-day period, 91,168 unique devices connected to the public Wi-Fi network within the terminal.

Last Update

The public Wi-Fi at CLT was installed in the early 2000s and updated in 2012, ahead of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte. However, demand has grown significantly along with passenger traffic, which hit a record 58.8 million passengers in 2024.

Ongoing construction projects over the years, including the recently completed Terminal Lobby Expansion, have also created coverage gaps. “It shifts the walls and boundaries that the wireless signal must get through, access points get moved and it interrupts service,” said Varner.

The upgrades will increase the number of Wireless Access Points (WAPs) from 238 to approximately 300, allowing for more simultaneous connections.

Work to start in 2026

The project work will likely begin in 2026; however, completion will take a few years, with a phased approach.

“We are mindful of not wanting to interrupt passenger flow and experience,” added Varner. “Certain aspects can only be done after hours, and there is only a small window of time between midnight and 3 am when there are no flights.”

Public Wi-Fi will remain free for CLT passengers, with an End User License Agreement (EULA) that users can accept by clicking.