UPD Sky Broadband UK Launch Free WiFi Wireless Internet Service

Sky Broadband (BSkyB) has today confirmed the much anticipated mid-April 2012 launch of its free wireless internet (wifi) service, which will be available to the ISPs existing SkyBroadband Unlimited, Sky Fibre Unlimited (due to launch next week) and Sky Connect customers from over 10,000 Hotspots across the UK.

The announcement follows last year’s £50 Million acquisition of The Cloud, a UK WiFi Hotspot operator, by BSkyB. It’s believed that Sky made the decision to go this way after seeing that many of its competitors, such as BT, Virgin Media and O2, had launched similar services of their own. Apparently more than 4,000 new hotspots have been added to The Cloud’s network since 1st January 2012.

A free ‘Sky Cloud Wi-Fi‘ app will also be made available for iOS (iPhone, iPad) and Android devices (Tablets and Smartphones) and, once downloaded and registered, will allow people to automatically connect their device to the internet without having to log-in ever again. This removes some of the hassle of signing into WiFi networks.

Furthermore people can register up to 6 devices per household and there will be no data allowances or usage limits to worry about.

Lyssa McGowan, Director of Communication Products at Sky, said:

“Whether it’s to go on Facebook, watch favourite TV shows with Sky Go, catch up on the news or send an email, our customers can now enjoy high quality, reliable and unlimited broadband whether it’s at home or when out and about. Wifi Hotspots from The Cloud now gives millions of Sky customers quick and easy one-touch access whenever they want to be online. And by ensuring our hotspots are located where our customers need them most, they know they’ll never be far from a high speed connection. With a one-off registration process, they’ll automatically connect to the network, which takes all the usual hassle out of connecting to WiFi.”

Most ISP see adding WiFi into the mix as a useful way of improving customer retention and, in Sky’s case, to also make their latest video streaming services much more attractive for roaming use. We note that customers do not have to be a Sky TV service to benefit from the new service.

Sadly Sky’s Broadband Everyday Lite customers will need to upgrade their package to get access and the wifi service cannot be bought separately.

UPDATE 12:36pm

In related news Sky also announced the news of two more venue partners signing on to The Cloud’s network.

New Sky WiFi Venues

Network Rail

· 7 more stations will get WiFi from The Cloud with another 9 upgrading their service. Most of the stations’ WiFi is live now, and all will be live by the end of April.

· More than 500 million passenger journeys are made across the 16 stations each year, according to Network Rail.

· The 7 new stations getting The Cloud’s WiFi are: Leeds, Liverpool Lime Street, Manchester Piccadilly, Glasgow Central, London Cannon Street, London Euston and London Bridge.

· The 9 stations being upgraded are: Edinburgh Waverley, London Liverpool Street, London Fenchurch Street, London Charing Cross, London Waterloo, London Victoria, Gatwick Airport, London Paddington and London King’s Cross.

· The WiFi is available for people to use for free throughout the concourses, platforms and other public areas within the stations, though not on the trains themselves.

King’s Cross urban zone

· The Cloud hotspots will provide London’s largest outdoor with totally free WiFi zone – benefiting the thousands of people living, working in or visiting the 67-acre area.