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28th July,2004

Europe : BT has announced that it is significantly cutting the cost of its BT Openzone wireless broadband service. From 27 July, BT is consolidating its four current subscription packages into a single, new £25 monthly subscription tariff that reduces the cost by as much as 70 per cent.

In addition to the new subscription, BT is introducing a range of new and reduced tariff options for people who don’t want to be restricted by time limits and want greater flexibility of use - such as an international business traveller visiting the UK or a UK business professional working away from home.

In response to customer demand BT continues to expand the availability of the service through BA lounges globally, McDonald’s restaurants as well as through the extension of its wholesale network supply agreement with The Cloud, which will mean that BT Openzone continues to be one of the most accessible wireless broadband services in the UK now with over 4000 hotspots nationwide.

The new £25 monthly subscription, based on a 12-month contract, provides regular users with access to 4000 inclusive minutes of wireless broadband. This equates to three hours a day, every working day a month. This makes the new subscription option competitive, easy to understand and will also help drive increased usage.

Chris Clark, CEO of BT Wireless Broadband, said: “Since we launched BT Openzone two years ago, we’ve successfully built the UK’s leading wireless broadband network. These changes are in response to both evolving user requirements and the learning we’ve developed to date to give our customers affordable options that reflect their different needs. Our new tariffs make life simpler for our customers, building loyalty within our existing customer base and giving simple options for new customers to realise the benefits of wireless broadband.”

Additional changes include:

A new 30 Day Voucher costing £40 - ideal for the international business traveller visiting the UK and people working away from the office and home for a limited period of time. For example, business executives visiting a series of trade shows or consultants working at a customers’ premises can keep in touch at any time with 4000 minutes access for just £40 without having to subscribe.

Day Voucher reduced to £10 - perfect for those who occasionally work on the move, such as freelance journalists or contractors, and who may need to keep in touch with the office or home on specific days.

One-hour Voucher –the price is unchanged at £6, and vouchers will now only be available online.

Pay-as-you-go (PAYG) rebrand to “Openzone Per Minute” – this option continues to be an affordable way for the casual user to try out wireless broadband, whether via their laptop or Wi-Fi-enabled PDAs. BT is the only provider that offers this option in the UK.

Chris Clark said, “By simplifying and reducing the price, and making the service more widely available, we are helping more and more people to take advantage of the benefits of flexible working.”

BT Openzone hotspot locations include British Airways customer lounges around the world, BAA Airports, Corus Hotels, Hilton Hotels, McDonald’s flagship and drive-thru restaurants, PC World stores, Ramada Jarvis, and RoadChef service stations. Visit www.btopenzone.com/locations for a full list of hotspots or SMS 81041 with your nearest town or postcode to find your nearest hotspot.

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