BT offers free global Wifi access

BT has taken up one of the oldest ideas in Wifi to hold out the promise of global wireless internet access.

Way back in the days when homes first began to sprout Wifi routers it was suggested that these could have both a private and a public face, with access available both to the householder and passers-by.

The idea was taken up by the Spanish hotspot provider Fon, which claims to have a network of 500,000 access sharers, known as foneros, in Europe Asia and America.

Now any of BT's three million Total Broadband customers can opt into the scheme for free. In return for allowing others to use their line, they get free access to any fonero link anywhere.