McDonald's to install 500 Wi-Fi hotspots in UK

LONDON -- After a successful roll-out of 400 Wi-Fi hotspots in the United States, McDonald's restaurants will be installing wireless internet access points at more than 500 locations in the United Kingdom within the next few months. McDonald's UK has teamed up with BT Openzone in an announced campaign to bring public Wi-Fi to every community in the UK.

The two giant UK companies plan offer millions of diners who visit McDonald's restaurants the ability to log on to the internet using wireless broadband on their Wi-Fi-enabled laptop or PDA, as they grab a bite to eat.

BT said the landmark deal will mean that thousands more people will be able to easily take advantage of Wireless Broadband Week, which starts on January 26, when anyone with a suitable laptop or PDA can try out wireless broadband without time limit free of charge.

This offer applies to existing and new users for seven days from January 26, 2004. Users will be able to access BT Openzone free of charge for a duration of seven days from registration during Wireless Broadband Week. For example, if a new user registers for an account on February 1, 2004, access will be free for seven days from the date of registration.

2,200 Openzone sites

The BT Openzone access points will be installed in McDonald's flagship and drive thru restaurants by the end of March, taking the total number of BT Openzone live sites to more than 2,000. When the full roll-out is completed in March, the total will exceed 2,200, the companies announced.

The majority of the McDonald's sites will be in drive thru restaurants, which are popular with business travellers. BT already has an extensive network of BT Openzone hotspots at premium locations targeted at the business traveller, such as airports, railway stations and hotels.

The new McDonald's sites will also provide an opportunity for a wider base of customers than just the business community to experience the benefits of wireless broadband. McDonald's is keen to offer its customers the additional service of quick, convenient access to the internet, in a welcoming environment.

"This deal with McDonald's again confirms BT's position as the UK's leading provider of public Wi-Fi," said Steve Andrews, BT's managing director for Products and Enterprises, "and the scale of BT's network means that wireless broadband is growing from a premium offering for the few into something that will become part of everyone's lives, whether that's for work, or for simply surfing the web or emailing friends as a pay-as-you-go customer."

BT Openzone access points will be installed in refurbished flagship London restaurants in The Strand, Oxford Street and Liverpool Street station and rolled out in most drive thrus across the country. McDonald's announced that it wants to offer this new service to customers who want to eat and stay connected while working on the move.

'A vast network'

"We already have a vast network of BT Openzone access points at key locations for road warriors and these at McDonald's will help to boost that network," Andrews said. "These sites will also help to provide easily accessible locations where the large number of people who haven't yet tried Wi-Fi can log on for free and try before they buy during Wireless Broadband Week this month."

BT was the first to bring wi-fi to the high street in the UK and now has more than 1,700 BT Openzone-enabled sites, with 4,000 targeted by summer 2004. 

"Today's customer is more time-pressed than ever and we think it's important to meet the needs of busy professional and family lifestyles by offering services that are both easy to use and relevant," said Peter Richards, chief development officer for McDonald's. "We want the Golden Arches to be the first choice for a great meal and a place to go wireless."

Richards said McDonald's is committed to the roll out of wireless broadband in the UK, with the aim of appealing to a diverse range of customers and providing a relevant and welcoming environment. The company already has Wi-Fi agreements covering around 400 restaurants in New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Philadelphia in the United States.

McDonald's is the world's largest foodservice retailer with more than 30,000 restaurants serving nearly 46 million people in more than 100 countries each day. In the UK, McDonald's and its franchisees employ 70,000 staff in 1,230 restaurants. About 60 percent of these customers are aged 20 or under. This is McDonald's 30th year of operating in the UK.