Cash machines to be turned into WiFi hotspots

New prominent and easily accessible WiFi locations look set to spring up across the UK within the next five years as BT has signed a deal with ATM provider Cashbox to turn fee-charging cash machines into Openzone hotspots.

Currently, Cashbox has 2,500 cash machines across the UK, all of which charge the user a fee for withdrawing money. As the nature of these machines is to provide access to customer funds where there aren't many other high street banks around, many of Cashbox's ATMs look set to provide access to the internet in less built-up areas.

To start with, only ten Cashbox ATMs will be upgraded to act as a WiFi hotspot for BT Openzone as a trial run, although its hoped this number will increase substantially over time if it proves successful. The first locations include Tiger Tiger branches in London, Manchester and Glasgow.

Speaking on the development, Ciaran Morton, CEO of Cashbox, said: “Some of our sites lend themselves to becoming hotspots more than others. It's really just the start of our rollout.” Explaining how the project will work financially for both parties he added: “BT will give us a proportion of income based on minutes used per site.”

As well as BT broadband customers with inclusive WiFi minutes, Openzone hotspots can also be accessed by O2 iPhone, iPass and Boingo users.