Verizon Communications, the US telecommunications group, will provide its FiOS Video and broadband DSL internet customers with free WiFi access under an extended partnership deal it has struck with Boingo Wireless, one of the largest WiFi hotspot operators.

The move represents a sudden about-face for Verizon, which unlike some of its biggest competitors has largely eschewed WiFi technology, viewing it as a potential threat to its lucrative 3G mobile data business.