UK Wi-Fi Provider Halves Monthly Subscription Rates

BT, the UKs dominant landline operator has cut public Wi-Fi rates by up to 50 percent as it launched a new price structure. More than 2,500 extra European hotspots are also being added, bringing the choice of places to connect to more than 50,000 overseas, and over 100,000 UK and Ireland locations.

The new tariffs range from £5 per month for light users to a business roaming tariff at £28 per month.

BT is also announcing a further 2,500 places to connect in high demand locations, through roaming partners Swisscom Hospitality Services and Comfone. These add to the 6,600 UK, Europe and Americas hotspots, announced on 3 October 2008.

Swisscom Hospitality Services, which goes live later this quarter, provides access in 223,000 rooms at more than 2,000 major UK and European hotels including NH Hoteles and Hilton in Continental Europe. ComfoneÃ's WLAN roaming hub, WeRoam, provides 418 hotspots from METEOR Networks in France. BTÃ's international footprint now includes more than 50,000 places to connect.

Chris Bruce, general manager, BT Openzone, said: "The wireless broadband access market is at an exciting stage. Over the last six months we have seen double the use compared with the same period last year, with huge demand at hotels, major travel hubs, high street locations and residential and business areas. WeÃ've listened to our customers and not only have we simplified our tariffs but weÃ've added more value and places to connect."

BT customers can choose to get online at over 100,000 UK and Ireland locations, including those provided by the BT FON Wi-Fi Community, BT Openzone and its roaming partners, plus BT Openzone at BT Business Total Broadband hotspots. These include airports, railway stations, leading hotel chains, motorway service stations, coffee shops, marinas, residential areas and extensive coverage across 12 major city centres.

Posted to the site on 15th October 2008