O2 Wifi is free for everyone, regardless of network or broadband provider and once registered, customers will be automatically connected each time they enter a coverage area.

ENGADGET: O2 offering free WiFi around London's busiest streets

Hughes Network Systems, LLC (Hughes) is the world's leading provider of satellite broadband for home and office, delivering innovative network technologies, managed services, and solutions for enterprises and governments globally.

ENGADGET: Hughes updates its HughesNet satellite broadband with Gen4 service

The plot is thickening in the bidding war that has cropped up between Sprint and Dish Network for control of the wireless broadband provider Clearwire.

FORBES: Clearwire Shares Inch Higher; Dish Bid Not Quite Dead Yet

Add free Netflix streaming to the list of reasons why people are choosing cable as their broadband provider, particularly if they live in an area that is covered by the new network of free wireless hotspots.

FORBES: Telecom Weekly News Wrap

Cablevision, for its part, doesn't have an affiliate agreement with Disney for authentication, and it's the only major broadband provider that doesn't provide access to ESPN3.com, ESPN's broadband network.

WSJ: ESPN Launches App for Mobile-TV Devices