Usage rose 350% in the first two weeks of the school summer holidays according to figures released today by BT Openzone.
As more and more Brits opt to spend their holidays camping in the UK, families are turning to their iPhones, iPads and other smartphones for entertainment and inspiration to make the most of the temperamental British weather, and to ensure they stay connected.
More than 60% of BT Openzone customers are now turning to WiFi to check emails and surf the internet in their leisure time.
BT Openzone provides access at major UK holiday and leisure parks including 71 Camping and Caravanning Club sites, three Pontin’s sites plus locations at Coastfields Leisure sites in Skegness through a partnership with Wicoms. These sites are seeing regular spikes in WiFi usage during school holiday periods, including a rise of 60% during the school Easter holidays.
Chris Bruce, CEO, BT Openzone said: “Technology is coming to the aid of the traditional British holiday, as more and more people opt for more glamorous camping holidays. WiFi is proving to be a simple but essential way for holidaymakers to access the internet and to keep their families amused during unpredictable weather.”
BT is seeing growing demand for WiFi in the leisure and hospitality sector. WiFi access is inclusive/at no extra cost for 5 million BT broadband customers with unlimited BT FON WiFi minutes to use at over 1.5 million hotspots and access is also included for BT Openzone customers. O2, Tesco Mobile, Vodafone and Orange iPhone and other WiFi enabled devices with WiFi minutes in their contracts can use the BT Openzone network and other users can buy a BT Openzone voucher online with equivalent access from as little as 1p per minute for a 30 day voucher.