Friday, March 29, 2024

Gov’t activates free Wi-Fi project in 5 provinces

After getting into an imbroglio, it appears all is well now at the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) as the agency launched simultaneously 31 sites in five provinces under its free Wi-Fi program.   

DICT undersecretary Eliseo Rio Jr. (right), who submitted his resignation to Malacanang a few weeks ago, is seen with DICT secretary Gregorio B. Honasan II during the activation ceremony on Thursday, March 5, at the DICT office in Quezon City

With the activation of the public Wi-Fi, residents in those areas can now avail up to 40 megabits per second of Internet connectivity, according to the DICT.

The Wi-Fi sites are located in the provinces of Albay, Isabela, Lanao Del Sur, Palawan, and the city of Davao. This is part of the targeted 3,000 remote last-mile sites in 11 provinces by June 2020 under the first phase of the DICT’s project, with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). An additional 3,000 last mile sites will be deployed from July to December this year for a total of 6,000 sites.

Honasan said the free Wi-Fi sites will contribute to the development of the unserved and underserved local communities.

“Access to data has become a right. It will change the lives of our people. Can you imagine giving our farmers access to information? Automatically, the middle man that leaves our farmers dry is eliminated. [The] farm to market road becomes a reality,” he added.

Rio, for his part, said the endeavor is part of DICT’s efforts to provide Internet connectivity in underdeveloped communities as well as in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

Rio explained that for the past three years, the DICT has been subscribing to service providers using terrestrial networks in powering “Free Wi-Fi for All” sites. Since this network takes time to be deployed, this hampered the swift implementation of the program. Rio said the VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal), a satellite communications system, will fast-track the roll-out of access points in any location in the country even in remote areas.

“The Philippines, being an archipelagic country, halos marami tayong islands with no connectivity. So mas mabilis tayong magput-up ng VSAT lalo na sa unserved areas. Since the connectivity is through satellite, it (VSAT) does not need any terrestrial infrastructure that takes time to build,” Rio added.

Alongside the 31 sites activated, 41 Internet access points were also established and are now operational in the provinces of Batangas, Pampanga, Quezon, and Cagayan, totaling to 72 Free Wi-Fi sites in nine provinces under the collaboration of the DICT and the UNDP. This number adds up to the 3,362 live sites deployed as of March 1, 2020 through the regular roll-out of the program.

The Free Wi-Fi for All program is mandated by RA 10929 or the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act. The program aims to provide free Internet connectivity in public places across the country to enhance the people’s access to information and opportunities, and to be empowered to participate in the digital economy.

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