9th December - Manchester Airports Group has today announced that it has selected T-Mobile as its chosen partner to provide Wi-Fi access throughout its four airports across the UK.

T-Mobile is the only UK mobile operator with a wholly-owned Wi-Fi network, offering over 900 hotspots in the UK, 14,000 hotspots worldwide, a seamless service across much of Europe, and seamless transatlantic Wi-Fi roaming. This agreement follows a similar deal with the British Airports Authority (BAA) which ensures that over 120 million travellers can connect to the T-Mobile HotSpot service at airports such as Heathrow and Gatwick.

The HotSpot service at Manchester Airport went live on 1st December, and is one of the most extensive Wi-Fi services in any UK airport. The service provides wireless internet access in all customer seating areas as well as the majority of business lounges.

Wi-Fi access will be rolled out across the Group's three additional UK airports in Nottingham East Midlands, Bournemouth and Humberside. As well as providing wireless internet access, T-Mobile will be installing laptop stations, which include power sockets and instructions on how to use the service, throughout all four airports over the coming months. T-Mobile and Manchester Airports Group are keen to make using laptops at these airports a more convenient experience for travellers.

T-Mobile recently launched a new unlimited use tariff for using T-Mobile HotSpots, which is aimed at business professionals on the move who need to stay connected. For £23.50 (inc VAT) per month1, customers will get unlimited use at hundreds of T-Mobile HotSpot sites across the UK2.

Travellers that have a T-Mobile data card can use the Wi-Fi service to get seamless high-speed internet access on their laptops or alternatively use the HotSpot service with many of T-Mobile's latest PDA devices such as the MDA Pro and MDA Vario, both of which allow broadband speed access to the internet and email. These are ideal for business travellers that need to be connected at all times, but do not want to carry a laptop.

"We are committed to providing Wi-Fi access across the UK to enable people to access the internet where they want, when they want," says Simon Ainslie, T-Mobile UK Director of Business Sales. "By partnering with the Manchester Airports Group to provide Wi-Fi throughout its four UK national airports, we are ensuring that travellers can make the best use of their downtime whilst waiting for flights whether for personal or work purposes alike."

Martin Smith, Head of Group Information Services at Manchester Airport says: "This is great news for business passengers travelling through Manchester and the other regional airports in the Manchester Airports Group. The partnership with T-Mobile to provide wireless technology means that more than ever before, business doesn't have to stop when travellers reach our airports."

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