DICT launches ceremonial activation of the Free Wi-Fi For All

QUEZON CITY, March 5 (PIA) -- The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and local government units on Thursday launched in its office here in the city the simultaneous activation of the Free Wi-Fi For All – Free Public Internet Access Program sites with the provinces of Albay, Isabela, Palawan, Lanao del Sur, and Davao City.

The DICT, UNDP, and representatives from LGUs of the 5 sites led the simultaneous activation of sites and was witnessed through live video conference. The project aims to provide free public Wi-Fi to all Filipinos in all public places in the country.

"DICT is mandated to provide free internet access lalo na sa mga kababayan natin sa mga remote areas na hindi inaabot ng mga commercial telcos. Ito ay 6,000 sites na ibig sabihin mailalagay na natin sa mga liblib na lugar sa Pilipinas na kahit na cellfone [service] ay hindi nila ma-access. Itong accesibility ngayon sa internet where we reconnect workforce, classrooms, communities to the internet para makatulong sa pag-unlad ng economic status ng lugar," DICT Usec Eliseo Rio Jr. said during the ceremonial launch.

The DICT is mandated by law to implement the Free Public Internet Access Program. Under the law, no fees shall be collected from users to connect to public internet access points installed in public places throughout the country, including public parks, plazas, libraries, barangay centers, national and local government offices, public basic education institutions; state universities and colleges, public hospitals, rural health units, public airports and seaports, and public transport terminals.

As of June 2019, a total of 2,677 sites were operational under this Free Public Wi-Fi program. To accelerate the roll-out, a new partnership between the United Nations Development Program (UNDP)and DICT was launched in 2018, to add an additional 6,000 last mile sites, located in remotest, unserved and disadvantaged communities. (PIA NCR)