BT expands its wi-fi extender product range as sales of wi-fi devices in the UK hits 90m

DC15-087 March 3, 2015

BT expands its wi-fi extender product range as sales of wi-fi devices in the UK hits 90m

With more than 90 million wi-fi devices sold in the UK last year, the rapid demand for wi-fi access continues to grow 1 and tablets and wi-fi devices are becoming more commonplace in UK homes. Customers want to get online all around the home, including bedrooms and even in the bathroom.

However, wi-fi dead spots are a common issue causing huge frustration to consumers. BT's latest range of connectivity products makes it easy for customers to overcome this problem and get wi-fi coverage all around their home, and even into the garden.

From the new Mini Wi-Fi Home Hotspot 500 Kit, to the 11ac Dual-Band Wi-Fi Extender 1200, the range of products allows users to connect Smart TVs, games consoles, laptops, smartphones and tablets to the internet and enjoy content on demand all around the home.

Erik Raphael, Director BT Devices and BT Wi-Fi, said: In 2014 there was a growth of 17 per cent in the number of wi-fi devices sold in the UK. With the growth in fibre, customers are using their broadband more and more around the home to stream content, browse the web and play games.

Customers want to access wi-fi in every room of their house. We are continually looking to push the boundaries of new technology to give customers access to the best possible connection and fastest speeds, which is why we have launched the new 11ac Wi-Fi Extender and the Mini Wi-Fi Home Hotspot.

We are also planning on expanding our range of wired broadband extenders in the very near future. We will be doubling the speed of our existing broadband extenders by launching a 1000Mbps powerline. This will again bring the very latest in technology into consumers' homes.

The new mini Wi-Fi Home Hotspot uses powerline technology to enable customers to get a new wi-fi signal in any room of the house that has a power socket. It doesn't require linking to an existing wi-fi signal so the hotspot is ideal for getting wi-fi to rooms further away from the main router and houses with thick walls.

An alternative for solving wi-fi issues is the new 11ac Wi-Fi Extender 1200, which boosts the wi-fi signal further round the house improving your wi-fi, making it perfect for using tablets and smartphones in different rooms. This is a single plug that is placed at the edge of the wi-fi router's range in order to boost the signal. This new model comes with 11ac wi-fi, the latest and best wi-fi technology available, ensuring minimal interference and maximum speed, perfect if you have super-fast fibre broadband.

These new wi-fi connectivity products follow on from the launch of BT's first range in September 2013. In a rapidly developing market place BT is striving to make the latest technology available to customers to give them the best possible connection

The new range of BT Connectivity products offers consumers the opportunity to connect more devices than ever before to high speed internet. The products are available from major electrical high street retailers and online. For further information please visit www.connectedhome.bt.com

-Ends-

1 ABI Research, Feb 2015

Notes to editors

New products available for review:

Mini Wi-Fi Home Hotspot 500 Kit

Mini Wi-FI Home Hotspot 500 Multi Kit

11ac Dual-Band Wi-Fi Extender 1200

11ac Dual-Band Wi-Fi Dongle 610

Mini Wi-Fi Home Hotspot 500 Kit

The Mini Wi-Fi Home Hotspot 500 Kit offers high performance Homeplug powerline adaptor and a Wi-Fi Home Hotspot designed to provide a wireless and wired connection in any room in the house with an electric socket.

Main Features

Uses your home's electrical wiring to extend your broadband network anywhere in the house

Simple to connect devices to the Wi-Fi hotspot with push-button connection for devices in range

Wi-Fi cloning function to clone your router's name (SSID) and wireless key

Works with all broadband providers

Two Ethernet ports for multiple wired devices

Up to 500 Mbps for smooth multiple HD / 3D streaming

Link with other HomePlug AV powerline adaptors

N150 wireless technology

AV500 powerline technology

Compatible with AV200 technology devices

Secure wireless network no configuration necessary

Works out of the box

Mini Wi-FI Home Hotspot 500 Multi Kit

The Multi kit has the same features as the Mini Wi-Fi Home Hotspot 500 Kit, except the Multi kit has two Wi-Fi Home Hotspot plugs, providing two new Wi-Fi Hotspots in different rooms of the house.

11ac Dual-Band Wi-Fi Extender 1200

The 11ac Dual-Band Wi-Fi Extender 1200 allows you to extend the range of your existing Wi-Fi to provide greater coverage, improve connectivity and help eliminate Wi-Fi black spots.

11ac dual-band Wi-Fi delivers the speed and reliability ideal for downloading music, streaming HD video content or playing online games.

Main Features

Works with all broadband provider

Simple push-button Wi-Fi connection to your Hub/Router

11ac Dual-Band wireless technology

Selectable band connection to router (2.4 or 5GHz)

Multiple HD / 3D Video Streaming

Faster downloads and online gaming

Greater reliability

Secure wireless network - no configuration necessary

11ac Dual-Band Wi-Fi Dongle 610

The 11ac Dual Band Wi-Fi Dongle 610 allows you to connect your computer to the latest generation of wireless networks offering faster speeds, improved connectivity and reliability.

Main Features

Works with all broadband providers

High performance Wi-Fi to upgrade the built-in wireless in your laptop

11ac Dual-Band wireless technology

Small and compact design

Wi-Fi speed of up to 433 Mbps

Multiple HD / 3D Video Streaming

Faster downloads and online gaming

Greater reliability

Easy on-line set-up (CD

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