O2 launches free Wi-Fi across the UK
February 25, 2011 at 4:33 pm
O2 has joined a growing number of companies to offer public Wi-Fi hotspots in the UK. Launched on 26th January, the UK’s largest mobile operator is aiming to compete with the biggest rivals BT and The Cloud by providing free internet access to everyone, even non-O2 customers. According to O2, it is currently the only “genuinely free” Wi-Fi network in the UK.
Director of new business development, Tim Sefton, states that even though there are tens of thousands of public hotspots in the UK already, many people have been reluctant to use them due to poor reliability and uncertainty about how much they will be charged. In fact, as many as 20% of O2′s own customers opt to use mobile data when on the go, even when there is a nearby Wi-Fi hotspot available.
By offering a reliable and unconditionally free service to all internet users, O2 aims to revive the hotspot market, which it says has been stagnant for three years. Through partnerships with commercial venues such as restaurants and shops, it has said it will double the current number of premium public hotspots (i.e. those that do not use residential networks) by 2013.
O2 is not alone in its plans to shake up wireless internet in the UK. Virgin Media has also stated its intention to launch a nationwide Wi-Fi network, though no plans have yet been drawn up. There is speculation that the service would be bundled together as an extra for its current broadband users.
With so many companies coming on board, and towns such as Swindon offering wireless internet access to their entire population, it is clear that access to the internet need no longer be restricted to the home. Perhaps the future ideal of free internet for everyone wherever they are is not far off.
British Sky Broadcasting receives broadband demand boost
February 9, 2011 at 4:37 pm
British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) has received a major boost in the form of increased demand for broadband, with the news coming as further justification for the logic behind the News Corp bid for the company. News Corp, owned by Rupert Murdoch, currently do not have control of almost 61% of BSkyB, and previous approaches to acquire the remaining percentage have been rejected due to perceived undervaluation on behalf of News Corp.
With the release of these latest figures, it now seems that the ball is firmly within BSkyB’s court, with News Corp more than likely to feel pressured into raising the original figure put forward for the proposed acquisition. For this, BSkyB have those customers driving the demand for broadband services and high-definition television, with the latter only increasing in popularity over the last few months with the launch of new channels and broadband growth increasing at its fastest rate in 10 quarters, to thank.
The results are also important for BSkyB in a strategic sense, rather than just a monetary sense, with the figures encouraging those at the company who want to complete a partial transformation of the business from a pay-TV core to a diversified service that provides reliable and competitive internet and telecoms products as part of its main offering. Although BSkyB were quick to point out that they had experienced decent performances across the board, it is clear that internet and telecoms are a priority at the moment.
With the company buying WiFi provider, The Cloud, for a price that seems like very good value, the future for BSkyB and the internet seems very bright indeed.
