BT wins airport internet deal

BT has won an £18 million deal to fit up to 180 of its new internet kiosks at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports. The telecommunications giant is to replace about one-third of the existing payphones at all three airports with the web-enabled payphones, which allow users to surf the Net and to send emails and text messages as well as to make calls. BT will also continue to manage the airports’ remaining 350 basic payphones as part of the five-year deal with airport operator BAA. The company already has about 1,500 of the new internet kiosks in operation in the UK and it expects to have 20,000 within five years. Meanwhile, British Airways is to launch wireless internet connections into its main airport lounges around the world. The airline is working with BT to install the new technology, which will enable to customers to have broadband internet access without having to plug their computer into a modem. The first phase will involve fitting new BT Openzone technology in all BA lounges at Heathrow and Gatwick by the end of April. It is anticipated that more than 80 of the airline’s main lounges will have the technology by the end of May.