What is the primary benefit of using a captive portal in a Wi-Fi network?

The primary benefit of using a captive portal in a Wi-Fi network is user authentication. A captive portal serves as a web page that users must interact with before they gain access to the internet. This typically involves entering credentials, accepting terms of service, or providing personal information. By enforcing this process, network administrators can ensure that only authorized users can access the network, enhancing security and potentially allowing for the collection of user data for analytics or marketing purposes.

User authentication through a captive portal can also help in maintaining control over the network, mitigate unauthorized access, and manage bandwidth usage by limiting the number of concurrent users. This adds a layer of accountability since users must log in with identifiable credentials, which can deter abuse and keep track of who is accessing the network.

While optimizing bandwidth, improving signal strength, and managing devices are important aspects of Wi-Fi network performance, they do not directly relate to the main function and purpose of a captive portal, which is fundamentally about ensuring that users identify themselves before accessing network resources.