Dublin, Tuesday, January 4th 2004: Esat BT today announced it will provide Wi-Fi internet access in an initial 24 O’Brien’s sandwich bars in both the North and South of Ireland. Additional rollout across O’Brien’s remaining Irish outlets is expected in 2005. Wi-Fi from BT Openzone will enable customers of O’Brien’s to connect to high speed internet, email or their corporate network without the hassle of plugging into a phone line.

Wi-Fi from BT Openzone will be available by February to customers in O’Brien’s outlets located at Westmoreland Street, Abbey Street, Ballymount, Ballsbridge, Bray, Park West, Tallaght, the IFSC, Dun Laoghaire SC, Galway, Middleton, Ennis, Waterford and Belfast as well as two outlets in both Wexford Town and Limerick and six in Cork city. The network is to expand further in 2005 to offer Wi-Fi in all suitable remaining locations throughout the country.
Commenting on the announcement, Brody Sweeney, Chief Executive, O’Brien’s sandwich bars, said: ‘With over 260 O’Brien’s sandwich bars around the world, Esat BT’s network of local as well as international hotspots was important to us. We are delighted that our customers have the opportunity to stay in touch when they visit our cafes. We look forward to expanding this service to the nearly 100 O’Brien’s outlets throughout Ireland.’’
Bill Murphy, CEO, Esat BT, said: ‘‘Mobility is the future of communication and Wi-Fi makes keeping in touch while on the move easy. The uptake of our Wi-Fi service by airports, hotels, car show rooms, coffee shops and conference centres last year shows that businesses recognise this trend and are capitalising on it. We will continue to drive Wi-Fi adoption across Ireland in 2005.’’

The hotspots at O’Brien’s Sandwich Bars extend Esat BT’s number of Wi-Fi locations in Ireland to over 170. Irish BT Openzone customers on the move can keep in touch at over 20,000 sites in Europe and the US through BT’s roaming partners. Whether on holiday or on business, visitors to Ireland can use BT Openzone hotspots both North and South.

For a monthly subscription fee of just €40, BT Openzone customers can take advantage of 4,000 inclusive minutes of wireless broadband. This equates to three hours a day, every working day a month. The new monthly subscription is based on a 12-month contract and reduces the cost of Wi-Fi by almost 70 percent.

Current BT Openzone Voucher or Non-subscription options are:
1. 30 Day Voucher costing €60 - ideal for the international business traveller visiting Ireland or UK and people working away from the office and home for a limited period of time. For example, business executives visiting a series of trade shows, consultants working at customers’ premises or regional offices can keep in touch at any time with 4,000 minutes access for just €60.
2. Day Voucher reduced to €15 - perfect for those who occasionally work on the move, such as freelance journalists or contractors, and who may need to keep in touch with the office or home on specific days.
3. €10 BTb line Voucher – a pre-paid communications card that allows customers the choice of multiple communication services including BT Openzone Wi-Fi, International dial-up Internet access, International phonecalls and SMS messaging without the limitation of an expiry date. The card is available for purchase within hotspots or online at http://www.btopenzone.ie and replaces the current €10 BT Openzone Wi-Fi only voucher.

BT Openzone vouchers can be used at any BT Openzone hotspot in Ireland or the UK.

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For further information please contact:
Joanne Hunt,
Esat BT Tel: 01 432 5547 / 086 387 3395

Evelyn Vaughan/John McGuinness
Fleishman-Hillard Saunders, 01 6188425/016188459