Broadband News

BT Openzone hits one million wifi hotspots

Tuesday, 09 February 2010

By Garnet Roach

BT Broadband (www.BT.com) has reached its target of building a million-strong wifi network, with users on track to spend a billion wifi minutes online this year, the provider has announced.

Now the UK’s biggest wireless hotspot provider, BT said that the massive growth in iPhone traffic - coupled with deals to provide O2 (www.O2.co.uk), Orange (www.Orange.co.uk) and Vodafone (www.Vodafone.co.uk) iPhone customers with BT Openzone wifi access - had contributed to the increase.

Gavin Patterson, chief executive officer, BT Retail, said: “Whether at home, at work or when out and about, wireless access is central to keeping people and communities better connected. We’ve grown from 500,000 to one million hotspots within six months, and will continue add more to meet demand from smart-phone, laptop, iPod and now e-reader users.”

BT’s Openzone wifi network includes the BT Fon Community and hotspots via the BT Business Hub, offering wifi access in coffee shops, hotels and airline lounges.

Michael Phillips, product director at Broadbandchoices.co.uk, said: “Wireless hotspot access is great for 3G mobile broadband users - whether on your laptop with a dongle or using mobile internet on your phone.

“It allows you to save you precious monthly data allowance by connecting to a wifi hotspot, that also often gives you a faster, more reliable speed - perfect for streaming content, downloading apps or sending pictures and videos to your friends.”

Compare broadband deals

Save up to £363* when you include TV and calls with your broadband

CLOSE [X]

*Enter your postcode to find the best broadband deals in your area. We value your privacy, please see our privacy policy.

Why we need your postcode