Smart guest Wi-Fi for cafes, restaurants, and bars

Guest Wi-Fi in a cafe: what the venue gets

In the modern dining and hospitality industry, high-quality wireless internet is not just an extra service, but a basic guest expectation. However, simply sharing your Wi-Fi password means missing out on a powerful marketing channel and exposing your business to legal risks. The TheLink.kz platform turns regular guest internet into an automated client acquisition system and compliance shield.

Under the Communication Services Rules of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the owner of a public internet access point grants access only after the user is authorized. The wording in force since 12 July 2026 provides two methods: a one-time password sent by SMS to the subscriber number, and authorization through the eGov portal with a digital signature. Authorization by SMS code satisfies this: every guest is identified by phone number, the session is logged in the cloud, and the connection log can be produced during an inspection.

In addition to security, the establishment receives direct financial benefits. Immediately after authorization, the guest's phone is redirected to your interactive QR menu, Instagram page, or business profile on 2GIS/Google Maps to collect positive reviews. You also build a compliant database of your guests' phone numbers, which can be used for SMS marketing about promotions, discounts, and special events

What an inspector actually checks in a café

The inspector connects to your network from an ordinary phone. If any website opens right after connecting, with no login page in between, the network is running without user identification. A password chalked on a board or printed in the menu does not change that: it restricts access, but it does not answer who was behind a particular device at a particular time. The second question is the connection log — whether it exists at all, what period it covers and whether it can be exported.

Most cafés run the router the provider installed, with a single password for the whole venue — guests, the till and the cameras alike. That is two problems in one. The identification requirement is formally unmet, and in practice guest devices sit on the same network as payment equipment. A captive portal solves both at once: guests move to a separate segment, and every session records a start time, an end time and a link to a verified phone number.

How a guest signs in

The guest picks your network from the Wi-Fi list and, instead of the usual password prompt, sees a page with your venue's logo. They enter a phone number, receive an SMS code and confirm it — or sign in with Aitu Passport if the app is installed. Once confirmed, the phone opens whatever page you assigned: a QR menu, Instagram or your 2GIS listing. The whole path takes about fifteen seconds, and no staff member is involved.

On a return visit the code step is skipped: the device is recognised by its MAC address and the guest is online immediately. On the hardware side the portal runs on top of what you already have — MikroTik, Keenetic, TP-Link Omada or UniFi. Step-by-step setup for each is covered in our guides, and in most cases no equipment needs replacing.

What it costs the venue

The main variable cost is SMS. Message bundles are included in the plans, so no separate operator invoice arrives for each code. Aitu Passport sign-in uses no messages at all, and the higher your footfall, the more that difference shows. Setup is done remotely — no need to close the room or call out installers — and takes anywhere from half an hour to a few hours depending on how the current network is built.