BT turns off WiFi access to The Cloud

In a few days time BT Openzone subscribers will lose coverage at thousands of WiFi hotspots following the breakdown of contract negotiations between BT and The Cloud, a WiFi service provider at numerous train stations, airports and hotels in the UK.

BT defended this move for both home and business broadband subscribers by claiming they still would have access to 3,000 UK hotspots, and 40,000 worldwide. In an email to Openzone customers, BT wrote: "It's a decision we haven't made lightly, and we know this will affect the WiFi coverage you might be used to. But the great news is that the availability of Fi from BT has grown significantly in the past year, and we don't think you'll be too disadvantaged."

This somewhat arrogant approach by BT could well prompt a percentage of its subscriber base to look elsewhere, certainly now that 3G coverage and performance has been greatly improved by the major UK cellular operators and low-cost tariffs and dongles are being promoted aggressively.

In an attempt to attract these potentially dissatisfied Openzone subscribers, The Cloud is offering 30 days free WiFi access if Openzone customers take out a subscription with them.

For more on this story:
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