London crowned world's Wi-Fi capital

chris

London has shored up its status as Wi-Fi capital of the world with usage soaring 156 per cent and the average session time lasting 72 minutes.

But the world is in the grip of Wi-Fi fever, according to the latest data from iPass' 'Wi-Fi Hotspot Index' for the second half of 2007. Business use of wireless hotspots almost doubled last year but the increasing popularity of 3G as a mobile broadband technology is also fuelling the connectivity storm.

Singapore and Tokyo were the second and third Wi-Fi cities respectively, with Tokyo racking up an impressive 118 per cent growth -- taking it to within a hair's breadth of its Asian neighbour.

iPass, which gives mobile workers access to multiple networks through a single subscription, has now renamed its twice yearly survey the 'Mobile Broadband Index' to reflect rising usage of cellular technologies for getting online.

According to the index, Wi-Fi hotspot usage by business users increased 89 per cent over the same period the year before, with growth in Europe outstripping that in the US. Usage of Wi-Fi in Europe grew 142 per cent on the same period last year, compared to US growth of 61 per cent.

Overall, the US remains the most popular region in the world for Wi-Fi usage, followed by Europe and Asia Pacific.

Wi-Fi growth in Latin America was "exceptional", said iPass, with usage soaring 133 per cent in the region.

The top 10 countries for Wi-Fi usage, in order, are: the US, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, France, Japan, Australia, Belgium and Brazil -- which makes its debut in the top 10 after tripling Wi-Fi usage.

The locations where mobile workers choose to log on to wireless networks continue to be dominated by traditional business travel venues. Airports are the hotspots of choice, accounting for almost half (45 per cent) of Wi-Fi sessions overall. And Heathrow was the fourth most popular airport in the world for Wi-Fi usage.

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