New BT Home Hub offers up to twice the range

July 14, 2008 - UK incumbent telco BT has introduced a new Home Hub wireless router, based on the 802.11n draft specification and offering up to twice the range of the previous generation of Home Hubs.

The new Home Hub, an integral part of the telco's broadband and IPTV offerings, has improved security with WiFi Protected Access (WPA) technology, as well as improved power efficiency with a Power Save mode which switches off the wireless function when not in use, saving around 20% in energy use, and is also complemented with a fully-featured DECT phone with high definition sound.

"The new Hub will give you up to twice the wireless range of our competitors - giving our customers much more coverage in the home, even in those ‘difficult-to-reach’ areas, and more freedom to use their broadband wirelessly from wherever they want – whether in the living room, bedroom or even in a garden," said John Petter, MD of BT Retail Consumer.  "The ‘N’ standard technology also helps to prevent your wireless connection from annoyingly disappearing by providing a much more efficient wireless signal. Put simply, our new Home Hub reaches the parts other hubs cannot reach.”

BT claims that it is the first ISP in the UK offering 802.11n wireless technology.  The new Home Hub comes free to customers who sign up for a BT Total Broadband Option 3 contract, as well as to Option 2 customers who place their order online; existing customers can purchase the new Home Hub at half price for £45.