BT recently announced it now has one million Wi-Fi hotspots in the UK and Ireland they have reached this total through home networks, independent businesses broadband and chains like Starbucks. They also claim that their users will be on track to use one billion Wi-Fi minutes this year due to increased internet use which is down to the iPhone. Also to help boost their number of users BT signed UK deals with the likes of O2, Orange and Vodafone to allow customers to connect their iPhones via mobile broadband to its hotspots. CEO of BT Retail, Gavin Patterson said “Whether at home, at work or when out and about, wireless access is central to keeping people and communities better connected. We’ve grown from 500,000 to one million hotspots within six months, and will continue to add more to meet demand from smart-phone, laptop, iPod and now e-reader users.”
There have also been suggestions from BT that they may open up underground ducts to other internet service providers so they can lay their own fibre-optic cable. Its thought they will do this to stop any potential complaints the conservatives who if in power after the general election aim to target the BT monopoly. Chief Executive Ian Livingstone insists that access had already been discussed with watchdog Ofcom he said “We told Ofcom last year we’re willing to provide open access to our ducts… and we are working with them on how to achieve it, although it’s unlikely to be the silver bullet to get fibre to every home, open access to all ducts, not just ours, might help BT and others extend coverage and so we would like to see a future government support such a move.”