DICT targets 10K free Wi-Fi hotspots

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is accelerating the development of more free Wi-Fi hotspots across the country with plans to build 10,000 more next year.

Information and Communications Technology Acting Secretary Eliseo Rio said his agency intends to further double the number before the term of President Duterte ends by 2022.

“We willl build more free internet hotspots all across the archipelago through the Pipol Konek-Free Wi-Fi Internet Access in Public Places project. Our target is make it 10,000 up to 2020, and another 10,000 before the end of this administration for a total of 20,000 hotspots,” Rio said.

As of end-May, the DICT has managed to build 2,442 free public Wi-Fi sites covering 17 regions, 73 provinces, and 662 municipalities across the country.

The Pipol Konek–Free Wi-Fi Internet Access in Public Places project of the DICT targets to accelerate the government’s efforts in enhancing internet accessibility for Filipinos in hopes of bolstering economic, social, and educational opportunities and bridging the growing digital divide.

“One of the pressing challenges in the Philippines is digital divide caused by social, cultural, and even geographic factors. To breach the gap between those with ready access to internet and capacity to use the tools of information and communications technology and those who have not, we have been continually engaged in providing internet connectivity to Filipino men and women through the Free Wi-Fi Internet Access to the Public project,” DICT assistant secretary Alan Silor said.

“Through this project, thousands of schools, colleges and universities, hospitals, libraries, parks, plazas, and transportation such as airports and seaport terminals are now enjoying free internet connectivity, allowing many Filipinos access to a means of communications and source of information and opportunities,” Silor said.

Last year, the DICT sought the help of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to bring in foreign companies and technology to set up a national free Wi-Fi network in the country, as well as train people and telcos on roll-outs done in other countries with very successful free Wi-Fi programs.

Last March, the agency and the UNDP formalized their partnership to fasttrack the rollout of free internet access in public places.