UK Businesses Waste £370 Million on Wi-Fi and Roaming Charges Annually

Business travellers paying to stay connected whilst they travel are costing British companies more than £370 million each year, according to new global research from Amba Hotels. The average UK business traveller spends £16.30 on Wi-Fi and roaming charges on each trip - a third more than the average spend in the US where free Wi-Fi is more widely available.

Business travellers paying to stay connected whilst they travel are costing British companies more than £370 million each year, according to new global research from Amba Hotels. The average UK business traveller spends £16.30 on Wi-Fi and roaming charges on each trip - a third more than the average spend in the US where free Wi-Fi is more widely available.

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Hotels and airports are the worst offenders, with some charging up to £17 for 24 hours. Having to pay for Wi-Fi services also impacts the efficiency of the working day with up to 70% of business travellers regularly unable to work efficiently due to slow or unreliable Wi-Fi connections. For example, two fifths (38%) have been unable to join a work call or videoconferencing meeting, almost a fifth (17%) have missed a work deadline, and half (53%) have felt the impact on their personal lives after being unable to contact friends and family.

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."

The research highlights the overall cost of Wi-Fi to businesses globally and in key business travel markets:

To help businesses and consumers avoid expensive Wi-Fi charges, Amba Hotels has teamed up with RottenWiFi.com to track the best and worst Wi-Fi hotspots.