O2 Customers To Lose Access To BT Wi-Fi From 1 July

O2 customers will not be able to access the BT Openzone network of Wi-Fi hotspots from 1 July as the deal between the two companies is due to expire.

Instead, customers will be told to use the 8,000 O2 Wi-Fi hotspots in the UK, to which up to five devices can be connected on a single O2 contract.

O2 Wi-Fi hotspots are currently available in locations such as branches of Costa Coffee, Debenhams, McDonalds and Subway, and can be found using the hotspot locater.

O2 Wi-Fi network

“From 1 July 2013, we will no longer offer access to BT Openzone Wi-Fi hotspots to our customers,” a company spokesperson confirmed to TechWeekEurope. “We now have over 6 million users on O2 Wi-Fi who can access over 8000 hotspots across the UK allowing access to fast, free, reliable and easy to use Wi-Fi.

“We’ll continue to extend the reach and scale of O2 Wi-Fi through exciting partnerships with venues including O2 shops, restaurants, retail outlets and outdoor and indoor locations across the UK.”

O2 has advised customers to adjust the Wi-Fi settings on their devices so that they do not continue to attempt to connect to BT Wi-Fi hotspots. It says that those who still want to continue to use the BT Wi-Fi network should register directly with BT or find out if they still have access to them through another provider.

While some users will be disgruntled that they no longer have access to BT Wi-Fi, at least they will be able to surf the Internet on the tube after O2 agreed a deal with Virgin Media earlier this year.

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