DICT, PLDT roll out more Wi-Fi services

MANILA, Philippines — More free public Wi-Fi services are being rolled out across the country to bring connectivity to more people.

PLDT Enterprise has teamed up with the local government of Cagayan De Oro (CDO) to roll out fast and free public Wi-Fi service across high foot traffic areas, including the Port of CDO.

“As the country’s leading ICT and digital services provider, we believe ourselves to be in the business of nation-building, which is why we remain keen on partnering with the public sector to improve the lives and welfare of our countrymen,” Smart president and PLDT chief revenue officer Al Panlilio said.

“We are thankful to be joining hands with the local government of Cagayan de Oro and we hope that the deployment of our services will help further spur economic activity in the region” Panlilio said.

The local government of CDO now joins the growing number of partners in the public sector which have Smart Wi-Fi services in place.

Meanwhile, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is also set to provide free internet access points in the province of Zambales through the government’s Free Wi-Fi for All program.

“We intend to make Zambales a showcase for ICT initiatives of the Department of Information and Communications Technology for many reasons, such as security, development of our local government units, our objective of uniting our country, and our vision to promote lasting peace and prosperity,” DICT Secretary Greogorio Honasan said.

The partnership is expected to open up many opportunities for Zambales for growth and economic prosperity as it also includes the cooperation and collaboration on other projects on ICT connectivity, ICT governance, and ICT training programs.

The DICT said its Free Wi-Fi for All program is part of the government’s effort to empower the Filipino people in the digital age.

“Each and every citizen, regardless of where he or she is in the region, will be empowered not just for education but opportunities for work because of the connectivity that the government will bring through the Free Wi-Fi for All program,” DICT undersecretary Jose Arturo De Castro said.