3rd telco to offer free WiFi at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines — A third telecommunications company will offer free WiFi at all the terminals at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to boost the connectivity of the passengers, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) spokesman Chris Bendijo said yesterday.

He added that aside from Globe Telecom and Smart Communications Inc., Converge would soon be added to the free WiFi services at NAIA.

“Currently we have two service providers providing internet access for our terminals and currently the installation of hardware of the third (telco) provider is ongoing,” Bendijo said.

Based on the timeline of MIAA, Converge can start providing free WiFi by this month.

“By April, we will have a third provider. Right now, the current data bandwidth cannot accommodate the number of people in our airports so there is a restriction that after two hours, if there is no movement, you will be disconnected and you have to re-login but come the entry of the third player, hopefully we can provide more internet connectivity,” Bendijo said.

Anti-rat campaign effective

On the other hand, Bendijo said the campaign against rats at the airport was proven effective.

“We cannot discount the fact that we have food concessionaires which necessarily attracts rodents. Numerous traps were set up and the trapped (rats) decreased both in number and size, which is a sign that the measures are effective,” he said.

Bendijo noted that based on the report of the Bureau of Quarantine, bedbugs found at the airport did not originally come from the Philippines

“I am only relying on the statement of the Bureau of Quarantine about the possibility of infestation (of bedbugs) by introduction,” he said.

Free charging at PITX

Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange spokesperson Jason Salvador said that the PITX does not only offer free WiFi but also free charging stations.

Salvador said that public information displays are also available around the terminal reminding the public against scammers.

“There are so many passengers at PITX that’s why the DoTr, the DICT made it a point to inform the public. Imagine around 120,000 passengers use the terminal daily,” he noted, referring to the Department of Transportation and Department of Information and Communications Technology.

Salvador noted that currently, Globe and Smart offer free WiFi at the PITX, adding that other internet providers are welcome to join.