After rushing to launch the initial phase of the free Wi-Fi project in Edsa, the government is aiming to blanket the entire 24-kilometer length of Edsa with Wi-Fi signals by August of this year.
To make the Edsa project happen, the DICT has provided access points in all MRT stations and in between stations, and sought the help of local telcos to enhance infrastructure for cellular services along Edsa.
The entry of new players in the local telecommunications industry will help improve the state of Internet in the country, according to Mary Grace Mirandilla-Santos, lead convenor of civil society group Better Broadband Alliance.
A new report from content delivery firm Limelight Networks has revealed that Filipinos spend the most time online in Southeast Asia and are also the most tolerant on slow Internet speed.
The "State of the Internet Report" for the first quarter of 2017 from tech firm Akamai Technologies showed that the Philippines has retained its dubious title as the country with the slowest Internet speed in Asia Pacific at 5.5 Mbps.
Sen. Ralph Recto said the bill does not only mandate the installation of free Internet access in public places and offices nationwide, it also requires Internet to be fast with a 2-Mbps speed.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said the NTC should be given fiscal autonomy and its commissioners, a fixed term of office to reinforce its independence and to allow it to break out from the influence and control of big industry players.
The Road Board, which is funding a major road mapping project that aims to update the country?s road network, said it expects the P250-million initiative to be completed before the current year is out.
The measure providing Filipinos free Internet access in public places is now one signature away from becoming a law after the Senate ratified its final version Wednesday, May 24.
In a speech at the Senate on Monday, May 22, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian criticized the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) for failing to impose stricter regulations in the use of public spectrum to compel telecommunication companies to improve their services.
