Exeter wins UK Wi-Fi crown

Exeter has been declared the capital of Britain's Wi-Fi revolution, after a study identified the city as the UK's wireless hotspot technology hub.

Research commissioned by Intel to find the UK's Wi-Fi capital analysed the number of hotspots per person in towns and cities across the country.

It produced the 'Wi-Fi League', with Exeter topping the table. Bangor in Wales was found to be Britain's second Wi-Fi city, while Newcastle came in third.

According to the study it is over a pint that Britons are getting wireless, with more of the UK's 3,000+ hotspots located in pubs than anywhere else.

Richard Ball, head of economy and tourism at Exeter City Council, said: "Exeter is a thriving and progressive city. We're thrilled to have been named Britain's Wi-Fi capital - it's a real bonus for the people of Exeter, for business and for tourism."

Surprisingly, London only managed 33rd place. Although the capital has the most hotspots in the UK and is second on a global scale only to New York, its huge population means that it has a low per-capita hotspot count, placing it way down the league, just above Luton and Stafford.

Birmingham, the UK's second largest city, is 57th, with a large population but smaller number of hotspots. The study labelled Wales as the 'Wireless Valley', with two entries - Bangor and Cardiff - in the top realms of the league.