BT offers free mobile broadband to SMBs

BT is set to offer free mobile broadband to small and medium businesses (SMBs) which sign up for specific fixed-line packages.

Using a USB stick, customers can connect via BT's Openzone Wi-Fi service which recently saw price cuts of its own or using mobile networks. The deal includes 2,000 Openzone minutes, while the mobile internet is capped at 1GB of downloads a month, both of which can be monitored using BT's software.

Bill Murphy, managing director of BT Business, said: "It brings together the complementary worlds of 3G, Wi-Fi and fixed-line broadband for customers in a truly powerful converged offering."

BT claimed the mobile broadband network offered speeds of 7.2MBp/s.

The deal is only offered until the end of the year, and is just for new or renewing customers, at prices starting from 15 a month. It can also be bought as a standalone option for 17.50 a month with unlimited Wi-Fi and mobile network access.

BT's announcement follows one by mobile operator Orange, which is offering free broadband to SMBs signing up for mobile voice plans.