AT&T WiFi usage skyrockets

WiFi networks to help offload data traffic, which should ultimately lead to better network performance for its wireless customers, CNET reports.

This week, the carrier said it has seen WiFi usage on these networks triple in the last year.

According to Texas TechPulse, AT&T said it had 301.9 million connections made in the third quarter (Q3) of 2011, triple the number of connections in Q3 of 2010, up more than 282%.

AT&T, which has suffered some criticism of its data network in recent years, has been building out its network of WiFi hotspots to help offload huge demand for data services on the carrier due to widespread adoption of Apple's iPhone and Android devices.

The number of hotspots has also increased, says the telecommunications company, especially at stadiums and hospitality locations, Tech Crunch writes.

The number of AT&T WiFi hotspots at hotels has quadrupled in 2011, and hotel locations account for approximately 40% of the total AT&T WiFi network traffic.