Posted: 19th Feb, 2004 By: MarkJ
UK Wi-Fi ISP BTOpenzone has signed a new deal with British Airways (BA) to install hotspot access points in 80 of its main customer lounges around the world:
BA TO PUT BT OPENZONE IN EXECUTIVE LOUNGES IN GLOBAL ROLL-OUT
BT today announced that it had struck an exclusive global deal with British Airways, to install BT Openzone access points in 80 of its main customer lounges around the world.
The contract, which reinforces BTs leading position in the UK for public Wi-Fi, will mean travellers can experience the benefits of BT Openzone wireless broadband in British Airways executive lounges across the UK, Europe, United States, Africa, South Africa and India. The first ones will be working by the end of April.
Hundreds of thousands of business and leisure travellers pass through British Airways prestigious executive lounges every year. Connecting to the service will give them the chance to maximise every minute of their working days, even waiting time in airport lounges.
Airports have proved to be among the most popular locations for customers to enjoy the benefits of wire-free, high-speed working away from the office.
During Wireless Broadband Week1, when BT opened up access to its network free of charge, the companys existing airport access points at Heathrow and Gatwick were in the top ranks of the most popular sites.
The deal is the latest in a string of recent major contract signings for BT, including a roll-out in McDonalds restaurants across the UK. It means that businessmen and other passengers will be able to log on wirelessly in the comfort of British Airways lounges and terraces, initially at London Heathrow and London Gatwick.
Other BA lounges across the UK are also due to be covered, including Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle in England, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen in Scotland and Belfast in Northern Ireland.
But the footprint of the coverage will also cover major European cities, such as Amsterdam, Rome, Berlin, Copenhagen and Athens, as well as all the major destinations in the United States and locations in Africa, South Africa and India. A full list of sites is available at http://www.btopenzone.com