DICT, Globe and Smart Launched Free WiFi on EDSA

The first Free public WiFi in the Philippines was successfully launched, and it is on EDSA. This is a joint project of Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Globe and Smart. The said Free WiFi project was launched on June 12, 2017, Philippine Independence Day. This a good news to all Filipinos and to the government since the first attempt of having a Free WiFi on 2007 was disrupted because of the NBN-ZTE scandal, a 329 million US dollar construction contract between the Chinese Telecom ZTE and the proposed government-managed National Broadband Network.

Free public Wi-Fi will be available across the whole 24-kilometer stretch of EDSA. The launched was done at the central terminal of the MRT at the corner of EDSA and Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City.

For now, the service is available at MRT and at ground level, between the Guadalupe and Cubao MRT stations. The entire 24-kilometer stretch of EDSA is expected to go online by August.

The Free WiFi project is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte's promise during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) that the government will provide free Wi-Fi services in public areas nationwide. As President Digong said, "Wi-Fi access shall be provided at no charge in selected public places including parks, plazas, public libraries, schools, government hospitals, train stations, airports, and seaports." 

300Mbps Speed on Initial Service Test

Rodolfo Salalima, DICT Secretary, said during the launch that initial tests of the new service, which is jointly provided by the Philippine Government and two local telco rivals Smart Communications and Globe Telecom, is capable of speeds in excess of 300Mbps.

With this speed, you can play videos with no buffering.

1000 People Per Access Point

Ret. Gen. Eliseo M. Rio, Jr, DICT Undersecretary for Special Concerns, said in an interview on Unang Balita (GMA 7 Unang Hirit News Segment), "At that speed, mga hanggang 1,000 per access point at that speed. Talagang binigyan ho ng malaking bandwidth yung mga access points ng free Wi-Fi sa EDSA para kahit ganyang karaming tao magkonekta ay hindi bababa."

30-minute Access to the Free Wi-Fi from Each Service Provider

DICT Undersecretary Rio said that each would be given a 30-minute access to the free Wi-Fi from each service providers, Smart, Globe and the DICT's Pipol Konek.

With 30-minutes access to each service providers, people can have a free internet access for a total time of one and a half hours per day.

A Minimum Speed of 10Mbps

DICT Secretary Rodolfo Salalima promised that the speed of two digit must not go down, at least 10 megabyte per second.

DICT Undersecretary for Special Operations Eliseo Rio Jr. said in an interview on Unang Balita, "Subukan nila, kung mas mababa diyan, pakireklamo sa DICT at gagawa kami ng paraan." People can report to DICT if they will experience a slow speed internet connection, for example, a speed of 9 Mbps below.

Free WiFi Secure on Data/Identity Theft, Strictly No Access to Porn Sites

DICT also assures that people connected to Free public WiFi on EDSA are safe from data or identity theft. They also added that, all Porn Sites are blocked. This measures are done to protect the users.

Source : GMA News Official Facebook Page

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