From London, a Lesson in the Benefits of Free Wi-Fi - NYTimes.com

A paradoxical sign of the wireless times

"Free Wi-Fi service is becoming an important tool for operators in maintaining quality mobile service during a time of skyrocketing data traffic, congested mobile networks and, for travelers, costly roaming charges.
Public Wi-Fi networks have sprung up in many big cities. According to Informa, a research firm, the number of Wi-Fi hot spots worldwide will reach 5.8 million by the end of 2015, up from 800,000 in 2010. Eight of the world’s 10 biggest mobile operators are using Wi-Fi to offload their cellular data traffic."

From London, a Lesson in the Benefits of Free Wi-Fi - NYTimes.com