PRESS RELEASE
Customers are now able to take advantage of BT Wi-fi free in Tesco Extra and Superstores across the UK and Republic of Ireland
Tesco is helping customers get more value out of their shopping experiences with free and fast wi-fi access at stores in the UK and Republic of Ireland, thanks to a new partnership with BT.
To enjoy the new service, customers should simply select ‘Tesco Wi-fi' or ‘BT'* on their smartphones or tablets and they can begin browsing. The free service has been fully rolled out to 806 Tesco Extra and Superstores in the UK and 113 stores in the Republic of Ireland.
Tesco was the first supermarket in the UK to offer customers in-store wi-fi access. As part of the new partnership, it will use BT's superfast wi-fi service where available to boost stores' bandwidth up to 76Mb to give customers an even better online experience.
The BT Wi-fi service will allow customers to download Clubcard vouchers, get product information, browse recipes and take advantage of the latest in-store offers much quicker and more conveniently than before.
Research** carried out by BT, which operates the largest wi-fi network in the UK with more than five million hotspots, and ICM, shows that 44 per cent of people use wi-fi in shops to browse items or compare prices. The research also found that 34 per cent of people download discounts or vouchers to use in store via wi-fi.
Tomas Kadlec, Group Technology Director, Tesco, said: "Customers now want the same kind of experience in-store as they enjoy online, with fast and convenient access to product information, pricing and offers at the touch of their fingertips.
"We were the first supermarket in the UK to offer free wi-fi and the first to launch online shopping. We're now bringing these innovations together to put our customers in control with better service and value than ever before."
Luis Alvarez, CEO, BT Global Services said: "Connectivity is becoming an important part of the customer experience. From retailing to banking, customers expect the same connectivity in high-street stores, cafes and bank branches as they get in their homes or workplaces. The BT Wi-fi partnership with Tesco gives customers the connectivity they expect. It also creates a platform for Tesco to further bring the in-store and online shopping experience closer together for the benefit of its customers."
* BT Wi-fi hotspots may appear as ‘BT Openzone' in some stores
** BT and ICM wi-fi research 2013
Tesco already uses BT Cloud Contact to give its UK customers a flexible and responsive Customer Service Centre, handling 90 million minutes of calls each year, including Clubcard and online shopping enquiries.
About BT
BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in more than 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to its customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband, TV and internet products and services; and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of five lines of business: BT Global Services, BT Business, BT Consumer, BT Wholesale and Openreach.
For the year ended 31 March 2014, BT Group's reported revenue was £18,287m with reported profit before taxation of £2,312m.
British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.
For more information, visit www.btplc.com.
