OREANDA-NEWS. Customers are now able to take advantage of BT Wi-fi free in Tesco Extra and Superstores across the UK and Republic of Ireland

Tesco is helping customers get more value out of their shopping experiences with free and fast wi-fi access at stores in the UK and Republic of Ireland, thanks to a new partnership with BT.

To enjoy the new service, customers should simply select 'Tesco Wi-fi' or 'BT'* on their smartphones or tablets and they can begin browsing. The free service has been fully rolled out to 806 Tesco Extra and Superstores in the UK and 113 stores in the Republic of Ireland.

Tesco was the first supermarket in the UK to offer customers in-store wi-fi access. As part of the new partnership, it will use BT's superfast wi-fi service where available to boost stores' bandwidth up to 76Mb to give customers an even better online experience.

The BT Wi-fi service will allow customers to download Clubcard vouchers, get product information, browse recipes and take advantage of the latest in-store offers much quicker and more conveniently than before.

Research** carried out by BT, which operates the largest wi-fi network in the UK with more than five million hotspots, and ICM, shows that 44 per cent of people use wi-fi in shops to browse items or compare prices. The research also found that 34 per cent of people download discounts or vouchers to use in store via wi-fi.

Tomas Kadlec, Group Technology Director, Tesco, said: "Customers now want the same kind of experience in-store as they enjoy online, with fast and convenient access to product information, pricing and offers at the touch of their fingertips.

"We were the first supermarket in the UK to offer free wi-fi and the first to launch online shopping. We're now bringing these innovations together to put our customers in control with better service and value than ever before."

Luis Alvarez, CEO, BT Global Services said: "Connectivity is becoming an important part of the customer experience. From retailing to banking, customers expect the same connectivity in high-street stores, cafes and bank branches as they get in their homes or workplaces. The BT Wi-fi partnership with Tesco gives customers the connectivity they expect. It also creates a platform for Tesco to further bring the in-store and online shopping experience closer together for the benefit of its customers."