We reported this as a rumor in March: Now, it's fact: BT has invested in Spanish wireless startup FON, which aims to blanket the world in free WiFi hotspots. Now, BT's more than 3 million Total Broadband customers will be able to join the FON WiFi network, which currently provides more than 190,000 hotspots worldwide. If they join, BT's customers will be opening up a slice of their home WiFi bandwidth into a public network, which others can use. BT declined to announce how big a stake it acquired in FON or how much it invested. Google and Skype invested in FON last February.
For more on BT's stake in FON:
- read this release
- read FierceTelecom's take here
- read this article from the WSJ (sub. req.)
Extra: Find out more in our FON Fierce 15 Profile