In a world first, Dutch operator Ziggo is launching a nationwide free Wi-Fi network.
Following a pilot in Groningen using 18,000 hotspots, the project will now be expanded nationwide offering a staggering 1 million hotspots.
According to broadbandtvnews.com, the service looks similar to Telnet’s hotspot service, however, it is not browser-based. Once a customer has activated the service on their laptop, tablet or smartphone one time, they will have access to all of the hotspots automatically.
While the service is free to use, customers need to open up their router to be able to access the network. By replacing their customers routers with dual access devices, the modem’s service is split to provide home broadband as well as a public hotspot for customers within range.
“We use an opt out system, you can choose not to take part,” said Pieter Vervoort, vice president of consumer products and innovation at Ziggo.
Vervoot said that only one per cent declined to take part during the pilot and 25 per cent of all customers utilised the service outside of their homes.
Multichannel.com reported that the rollout will be phased with 200,000 hotspots being activated between May and June, a further 350,000 being activated by the end of July and another 100,000 by the end of August.
