MCI pushes Wi-Fi to the UK

MCI today announced plans to expand its international Wi-Fi infrastructure into the UK and Europe by almost doubling its network of hotspots from 6,200 to 11,000.

The troubled communications firm, which in its former incarnation as WorldCom saw former chief executive Bernie Ebbers pronounced guilty of the world's biggest accounting fraud, is planning to add hotspots in coffee shops, bookstores and retail shipping, postal and business service centres across the UK, Europe and Asia.

The rollout will complement MCI's existing global hotspots at hotels, airports, restaurants and convention centres.

The extended Wi-Fi network is the result of an enhanced coverage agreement with Boingo Wireless. The new hotspots will primarily be located in the UK, US, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Greece, Singapore and the Philippines.

Businesses will have immediate access to more than 1,300 European and Asia-Pacific hotspots with an additional 3,400 US locations coming online in May.

"Network access is a key component for any company to effectively conduct business whether its employees are in an office or on the road," said Nancy Gofus, senior vice president of product management at MCI.