Wifi provider MyPlace Connect has passed a milestone, signing up its one millionth user.

The company offers free wireless internet access in venues such as restaurants, cafés, pubs, hotels and shopping centres. Its one-millionth signup took place in Dundrum Shopping Centre.

“The rate of growth in the past two years that we have experienced in terms of new users of our services has been phenomenal,” said chief executive and founder Peadar Gormley. “The growth to 1 million users has been accelerated in the last number of years with the ever increasing demand for free wifi.”

Founded in 2011, the company now operates in hundreds of venues in England, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Scotland, Switzerland and the United States.

“ The growth trajectory for MyPlace Connect shows no signs of slowing down and the announcement that one million users have signed up to MyPlace connect demonstrates that,” Mr Gormley said.

Recent research by the company has found that free wifi services are becoming increasingly important to customers, with 90 per cent expecting free wifi inn restaurants, cafés and hotels. More than two-thirds said they chose a destination based on whether or not it offered a free WiFi service.

“Free wifi has become a key ingredient for businesses in the service industry like pubs, restaurants, shops, entertainment venues or hotels,” Mr Gormley said. “Not only does free wifi attract and retain customers, it also allows these businesses to engage with their customers in a new way.”