Fixed Mobile Convergence Industry News

TMCNet: BT hits the one million spot; UK's largest Wi-Fi supplier announces a million hotspots

[February 09, 2010]

BT hits the one million spot; UK's largest Wi-Fi supplier announces a million hotspots

(M2 PressWIRE Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) BT has reached its goal of building a million-strong Wi-Fi hotspot network, the company announced today. 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*, 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 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 11 February to find it at http://twitter.com/btopenzone. For more information about our hotspots, see www.bt.com/thanksamillion Notes to editors * Between April 2009 and 31 March 2010 ** 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 Hubsbroadcasting 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.

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 GBP21,390 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.

((Comments on this story may be sent to info@m2.com)) (c) 2010 M2 COMMUNICATIONS

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