PH government to offer free WiFi at NAIA, MRT, LRT, select transport hubs in 100 days

MANILA, Philippines - Within 100 days, 21 major transportation hubs in the country including NAIA, MRT, and LRT will be offering free WiFi.

Finally FREE WI-FI:Travelers can expect speeds up to 1 gigabit per access point in these transportation hubs.
Finally FREE WI-FI:Travelers can expect speeds up to 1 gigabit per access point in these transportation hubs. PHOTO CREDIT: Smart Newsroom
Telecom giant Philippines Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), through its subsidiary Smart Communications Inc. (Smart), promised to implement the Wi-Fi rollout at no cost to the government. However, Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) chief Arthur Tugade revealed that the agreement is not exclusive and other telecom players can also offer free Wi-Fi.

"There is no hidden agenda here... We thank our partner, Smart, for supporting the government's thrust to make passengers' travel experience more comfortable, convenient, and connected,” Tugade told the media on the sidelines of the signing ceremony held on Tuesday, July 12 in Mandaluyong City.

Smart’s free Wi-Fi service will be available at the four terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and 12 other airports including Aklan, Bacolod, Cebu, Clark, Davao, Dumaguete, General Santos, Kalibo, Laguindingan, Laoag, Iloilo and Zamboanga.

Other transportation hubs covered in the deal include Light Rail Transit (LRT) 1 and 2, the the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3), and ports in Batangas and Mindoro.

According to PLDT executive vice-president Eric Alberto, travelers can expect speeds up to 1 gigabit per access point in these transportation hubs.

During his first week as DOTC czar, Tugade revealed his plan to address the issue of poor toilet maintenance at the NAIA.

'One of the small, basic problems which irritated the community is the issue of maintenance of the washrooms and utilities inside the airport....We'll address that in 100 days,” he said.

Tugade said that top officials of Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, Philippines AirAsia, PAL Express, Cebgo, and Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions while be in charge of the airports’ toilet maintenance beginning this week.

--Mini, The Summit Express



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