BT launches nationwide Wi-Fi

BT and FON have finally confirmed their long-expected tie-in, thus creating the largest Wi-Fi community in the world.

FON was founded in Spain in early 2006. Broadband users who sign up to FON's community agree to share their Wi-Fi connectivity through a separate, secure channel. They do this either for a 50 per cent cut of the fees charged to their visitors or for the privilege of being able to surf other users' connections for free, although the community has since changed its rules to allow its members to do both.

One of the biggest hindrances to FON's expansion has been resistance from ISPs, whose terms and conditions have tended to prohibit sharing of broadband connections.

Now BT, the largest ISP in the UK, has given its approval. By doing so, the telco has effectively extended its Openzone Wi-Fi network across the two million BT Home Hubs -- or at least those Home Hubs whose users agree to share their broadband connection.

BT customers who share their connection will not get remuneration for doing so, although they will gain access to BT's new nationwide wireless network and also, if they subscribe to BT's top broadband package, Option 3, they will get access to FON's global network of almost 200,000 hotspots. There is no current related offer for BT's business customers.

BT has also invested an undisclosed amount in FON and gained a seat on its board.

"This is the start of something very exciting for BT," said the managing director of BT Group, Gavin Patterson, on Thursday. "Today we are launching a people's network of Wi-Fi, which could one day cover every street in Britain. We are giving our millions of Total Broadband customers a choice and an opportunity. If they are prepared to securely share a little of their broadband, they can share the broadband at hundreds of thousands of FON and BT Openzone hotspots today, without paying a penny."