In charts: Why Wi-Fi is giving businesses a headache
Obscenely high Wi-Fi charges are giving British companies are huge headache.
New research by Amba hotels has revealed Wi-Fi and data or roaming charges cost British businesses about £371.25m a year. This was around a third more than their counterparts in the United States.
The survey is based on the responses of up to 3,000 businesses travellers across four countries: the UK, US, France and Germany.
Each individual person will spend around £16.30 on Wi-Fi during a business trip in the UK. This is the price of staying connected in a country where free Wi-Fi isn't widely available.
But, despite the high costs, a number of business travellers believe they aren't receiving value for money. Many said at times their work had been hampered by slow or unreliable Wi-Fi connections.
Slow or unreliable Wi-Fi connections have also caused business travellers to miss important calls with family or friends, fail to meet pressing work deadlines and even lose clients or customers.
And some are event footing part of the bill themselves. Around 67.9 per cent of UK respondents said they never, rarely or occasionally put data and roaming charges on expenses.
Financial commentator and founder of letssavemoney.com Sarah Willingham said: “Fast, free, reliable Wi-Fi is non-negotiable for modern business travellers."
"With airlines and rail companies investing in Wi-Fi on board and international roaming charges falling dramatically, it’s inexcusable to keep charging extortionate rates for patchy Wi-Fi connections."
"I’m pleased to see Amba Hotels is championing fast, free Wi-Fi and hope their competitors follow their lead.”