The number of people using wireless is set to surpass those using landline telephones next year. The numbers with a landline will fall from 31.6m to 30.7m in 2011, while mobile and broadband customers using wireless networks to access the internet or make phone calls will increase from 24.8m to 35.8m, according to research from Ovum, the telecomsanalyst.
Demand for wireless hotspots (wi-fi), which provide fast internet access without a landline, has also leapt. In the first two weeks of the summer holiday BT saw a 350% increase in wi-fi use, which it attributed to the popularity of posh camping, or “glamping”.
BT has the largest network of services that can be accessed from wi-fi “hotspots”. These locations give access to the net at speeds of up to 8Mb a second—about 10 times faster than most broadband dongles. Dongles, which are devices provided by mobile phone operators, use the slower 3G network and cost about £15 a month.
WHAT IS A WI-FI HOTSPOT?
Wi-fi hotspots are geographical areas within which you can access the internet at broadband speeds without the need for a landline. This is useful for those who want access outside their home, or have second homes which they go to only once a month or so. Plusnet has one of the cheapest broadband deals, at £6.49 a month, but it requires you also to have a BT landline, which costs £11.54 a month or £12.04 from October—a total cost of £18.53 a month or £222 a year. If you spend only one weekend at your second home every month and there is a wi-fi hotspot in the area, you could instead pay £5 for 24 hours’ wi-fi access, at a cost of £60 a year.
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HOW DO I ACCESS THE INTERNET?
If you are in a hotspot, you can pay to access the wi-fi network through BT FON and BT Openzone even if you are not a BT customer. Use your computer or mobile phone to search for local wi-fi networks and choose BT FON or Openzone if they come up. You will be directed to the websites through which you can pay for access. BT FON is a network of hotspots created by BT broadband customers. Users get access via a nearby BT customer’s home hub. BT customers who agree to join the FON network and provide access to others are rewarded with free access to FON in return. Non-BT customers pay £3 for an hour or £5 for 24 hours. A five-day pass costs £15. BT Openzone hotspots, which are not dependent on BT customers, are located at airports and railway stations. The cost of access is higher—£9.99 for 24 hours, for example.
WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES?
Though BT is rapidly increasing its wi-fi network and a rowing number of its home broadband customers are signing up to FON, access is limited. Also, with FON the maximum broadband speed you can access is limited to that of the BT customer whose wi-fi hub you are paying to use. There are only limited customer support services for non-BT customers. For example, if you pay for access to FON but encounter problems, your only option is to email the customer services department for assistance—not much help if your internet is down.
WHAT ABOUT MOBILE BROADBAND DONGLES?
These allow you to access the internet using the 3G mobile phone network. They are not always reliable and tend to be slow. The advantage of 3G is that it has more extensive coverage than the wi-fi network. A good deal is available from Three, which offers a dongle for £15 a month.
TOP TIP
BT’s wireless internet services are expanding, with about 300,000 hotspots added round the country in the past three months alone, taking the total to 1.8m. You can find out if there is a FON hotspot in your area by entering your postcode in the website, www.btfon.com. Ali Hussain