DOST assures free public Wi-Fi nationwide by yearend

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) on Thursday assured that the whole country will enjoy free Internet access before the year ends.

“We are very, very hopeful. It’s on track. The program is almost on track. That before the end of the year, free Wi-Fi would be in public places all over the Philippines,” DOST Secretary Mario Montejo said in an interview with ANC's Headstart.

Montejo said that the DOST will soon finish installing public Wi-Fi in the following cities:

• Batangas
• Cagayan De Oro
• Calbayog
• Cebu
• Dagupan
• Davao
• Iloilo
• Legazpi
• Mabalacat
• Pagadian
• Puerto Princesa
• Tacloban
• Tuguegarao
• Zamboanga

The DOST's P1.408-billion free Wi-Fi project also includes the installation of Internet infrastructure in 967 municipalities.

READ: DOST’s Free Wi-Fi project finally pushing through

The DOST chief added that the public Wi-Fi project would expose Filipinos from the countryside to employment opportunities online.

Montejo noted that the government needs to improve its "domestic backbone" so that the country's Internet speed can match those of neighboring countries.

The Philippines currently has a broadband speed of 3.64 megabit per second.

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