BT Hits The One Million Spot
Released
on: February 12, 2010, 6:57 am
Author:
BT
Industry: Telecommunications
BT has announced that it has reached its goal of building a
million-strong Wi-Fi hotspot network. Now the largest network in the UK
and Ireland, the hotspots are available in homes, independent
businesses, high street chains and major city centres.
BT Wi-Fi users are also on track to spend more than a
billion Wi-Fi minutes online this year (April09 - 31 Mar10), a peak attributed in
part to the massive growth in UK iPhone traffic. In the last eight months, BT has
signed UK deals to provide O2, Orange and Vodafone iPhone customers* with BT
Openzone Wi-Fi access.
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 to add more to meet demand from smart-phone,
laptop, iPod and now e-reader users.”
The million-strong Wi-Fi estate comprises hotspots from the BT FON Wi-Fi Community, BT Openzone, plus BT Openzone hotspots via the BT Business
Hub. Well-known brands offering access include Hilton, Thistle, Ramada Jarvis and
Macdonald hotel chains, Caffe Nero and Starbucks coffee stores, Welcome Break and
RoadChef Costa service stations, British Airways, Star Alliance, American Airlines
and SkyTeam airport lounges plus other UK transport hubs.
Five million BT consumer and business broadband – plus BT Mobile Broadband -
customers have inclusive Wi-Fi minutes in their contracts to surf, work or make
cheaper VoIP calls. Casual users can buy access from as little as 1/2p per minute. BT Openzone
customers can access a further 65,000 hotspots in the UK and overseas through
international roaming partners. BT FON members have access to another 225,000 FON
(hot) spots in the UK and worldwide.
The millionth hotspot is now live and BT will launch a competition on Thursday 11th
February. Further information can be found via the BTOpenzone Twitter feed.
Notes to editors
* Plus O2 Mobile Broadband customers
The estate includes:
Circa 860,000 BT FON hotspots: These are public Wi-Fi hotspots broadcast by BT Home
Hubs.
Circa 137,000 BT Business Hubs broadcasting a BT Openzone public Wi-Fi signal
Circa 3,800 BT Openzone hotspots in popular UK and Ireland locations including
hotels, coffee shops, major city centres, airport lounges and terminals and marinas.
- Ends -
About BT
BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications solutions and services
operating in 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of
networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications
services to our customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband and
internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT
consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT
Retail and BT Wholesale.
In the year ended March 31, 2009, BT Group’s revenue was £21,390 million.
British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and
encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is
listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.
Contact Details: Kina Kara
Senior Press Officer
BT Group Newsroom
BT Centre
81 Newgate Street
London
EC1A 7AJ
020 7356 5369
www.bt.com/newscentre
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