BT staked its claim as the UK's premier Wi-Fi hotspot provider today with the announcement that it now has 500,000 sites throughout the UK and Ireland.

The hotspots in homes, businesses and city centres include those provided by the BT FON Wi-Fi Community, BT Openzone and 12 'wireless' city centres, said the firm.

BT's network of Wi-Fi sites also includes BT Openzone hotspots via the BT Business Hub, and big name customers including Hilton, Thistle, Ramada Jarvis, Starbucks, Welcome Break and British Airways.

A further 50,000 hotspots are available in the UK and overseas through international roaming partners, according to BT.

"We have reached a significant milestone in making Wi-Fi available in places where people want to get online," said BT Retail chief executive Gavin Patterson.

"As the UK's largest broadband retailer, we are happy to offer the biggest Wi-Fi network too. We will continue to expand from here."

The telecoms giant plans to extend the Wi-Fi hotspot network to one million by the end of the year.