Australian operator Telstra will more than double its Wi-Fi trial to switch on more than 1,500 new hotspots nationwide. The operator will also extend its free Wi-Fi trial until June, building on the 1,100 hotspots that are already operational across the country. Telstra will also bring Wi-Fi to its 80 owned retail stores later this year.
Telstra’s Wi-Fi network extension will bring an extra 60 locations online, joining more than 250 suburbs and towns already connected. Over 1 million unique devices connect to the 1,100 Wi-Fi hotspots switched on by Telstra since November. Telstra is also inviting Australians to go to tel.st/newwifination and pick their preferred location from the list so the company know which hotspot locations will help people connect in regional areas around Australia.
When the full network launches, customers who sign up to become a member of the network will have access to more 3,500 Telstra built Wi-Fi hotspots, the residential hotspots created by other members and more than 14 million hotspots worldwide.
Telstra home broadband customers with a compatible broadband service and gateway who join the Wi-Fi community can use their home broadband allowance at domestic hotspots and more than 14 million Fon-enabled hotspots overseas. Non Telstra customers and Telstra customers who have not joined the Wi-Fi community will be able to connect to residential Telstra Wi-Fi hotspots for a fixed fee using guest passes.
