The deal comes as the mobile boom continues apace, with Deloitte recently predicting that global smartphone sales will exceed 1 billion units in 2013. With more people using smartphones and other web-enabled devices to browse the internet, send and receive emails, as well as access their favourite social networks and apps, the WiFi roaming agreement with AT&T will ensure even more visitors to the UK will enjoy the best possible mobile service and value. In 2012 approximately 3.4 million US tourists visited the UK for leisure or business.
Vince Russell, Managing Director of The Cloud, said: “When overseas on holiday or business, people will often want to access internet services, perhaps to search for their hotel or a tourist destination, which is where a big WiFi network like ours can provide an affordable and fast solution. This deal with AT&T is part of a wider growth in international usage on our network. Last summer we rolled out a multilingual service in thirteen languages, including Chinese and Russian, ready for the increased usage of the network during the Olympics. The idea is to make internet readily available to tourists and businesspeople as they visit the UK. The smoother we can make this process, the more appealing a place the UK is to visit.”
An estimated 7m people every day pass through The Cloud network by visiting one of its partners, including major outlets like M&S, Eat, Pret A Manger, Wagamama, as well as First Great Western stations.
Network Rail stations on The Cloud’s network include Leeds, Liverpool Lime Street, Manchester Piccadilly, Edinburgh Waverley, Glasgow Central, London Cannon Street, London Euston, London Bridge, London Liverpool Street, London Fenchurch Street, London Charing Cross, London Waterloo, London Victoria, Gatwick Airport, London Paddington and London King’s Cross.