Pres. Duterte To Set Up 100,000 Free WiFi Sites In All Cities, Barangays, Public Schools In The Philippines

President Rodrigo Duterte and his administration are planning to set up 100,000 free WiFi sites all over the Philippines to provide Internet access to more areas of the country.

In a report by GMA News, the government is allotting Php3 billion for the 10-year Internet project that aims to set up 100,000 WiFi sites to address the poor Internet access and connectivity in the country.

According to Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Usec. Jorge Sarmiento, the WiFi sites will be set up in public places like parks, plazas in local government unit areas, health centers, and piers.

“Sa mga park, plaza, sa mga local government unit areas, health centers, pier ang lalagyan ng free public WiFi... we are aiming to cover all municipalities in the country,” he said.

In addition, all public schools in the country will have free WiFi connection.

Sarmiento also said that the DICT is fast-tracking the project as President Duterte has already approved the establishment of National Broadband Plan to accelerate the deployment of fiber optic cables and wireless technologies and to improve the Internet speed in the Philippines.

Meanwhile, according to the United Nations Broadband Commission for Development, in every 10 homes, there are less than three that have Internet access or barely 28%.

Other developing countries like Sudan, Ghana and Indonesia have also surpassed Philippines in terms of household Internet connectivity.

Based on the 2016 survey, Philippines is ranked among the lowest when it comes to Internet speed. It has an average of 4.2 mbps speed, ranking 103rd globally.

Last year the DICT presented a plan for the broadband plan with an estimated Php200 billion and would take three years to finish.

Source: GMA