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So who exactly is covering the costs of “free” wi-fi at airports today? Typically, providers such as Advanced Wireless Group (AWG) and Boingo use a tiered business model to generate revenue, in which all travelers have access to free basic wi-fi for a limited time (45 minutes or so) but must watch a sponsored ad before the session begins. A faster, unlimited, ad-free premium version of the service is available to those willing to pay for it.