Good news fellas! EDSA FREE WiFI now available across the super congested EDSA highway. Now, let’s take a look at ten (10) items to be familiar with using the free internet service.
“With free wi-fi and high-speed Internet services, access to information, such as weather, education, even online jobs would be easier to access. People would likewise be more connected as a result of better communication. Indeed, ICT has gained traction in the everyday lives of our people. It thus plays an important role in nation-building,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said.
The DICT
According to our president Rodrigo Duterte, he wants to have an accelerate deployment of fiber optic cables and wireless technologies to improve our internet speed. Hence, he created the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for ensuring that many people can access this kind of platform.
“Alay Para sa Malayang Pilipino”
As part of our 119th Independence Day, the DICT, with National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), formally unveils the high-speed internet for all the commuters that travels every day in all main roads across Metro Manila.
DICT’s partner agencies
This project won’t fly without the government partnering with private companies. Aside from DICT, there are several government agencies, telco, and other companies.
- Department of Transportation – Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT3)
- PLDT
- SMART
- Globe Telecom
- ABRATIQUE & ASSOCIATES
- Metro Rail Transit Corporation (MRT DevCo)
- Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA)
- Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA)
- Manila Electric Company (MERALCO)
- Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
- Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA)
- Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), and the
- Local governments of Quezon City, Makati City, Mandaluyong and Pasay City.
GoWifi by Globe
Last September 2016, Globe Telecom, already deployed 126 hotspots and 2,500 access points in all MRT-3 stations. Globe also offers 30 minutes free WiFi access.
Smart FREE WiFi for 30 minutes
This is a disappointing part, however, you can continue to use the free internet by buying load cards. For Smart, subscribers must add P10 for another 30 minutes, valid for one day; P20 for adding two hours, valid for 2 days and, P50 for 10 hours that can be used in five days. Here are the following denominations: WIFI10, WIFI20 and WIFI50 then send to 9991.
Meanwhile, for Globe, users will pay P15 to have a further 500MB of data allocation in just one day, P50 for 1.5GB data for 3 days and P99 for 1.5GB data valid for 30 days.
Absolutely free of charge
Yes, users may download game, music and videos if you’re connected to the free Wi-Fi access. Others like posting in social media accounts, streaming songs via Spotify or watching music videos on YouTube are also applicable.
Illegal sites not allowed
The DICT prohibits the use of URLs with inappropriate contents. The department also assured to the public that our private information will remain safe and secured.
24 kilometers
The DICT confirmed that high-speed internet for free are now available across all 13 EDSA MRT Stations from Roosevelt in Quezon City down to Taft Avenue in Pasay City. The last stage of the project is expected to complete by August and to cover not just the entire EDSA but outside the main road like in SM Mall of Asia.
Telco-Grade Speed: Up to 300 Mbps speed
That’s an impressive fast result! As per checking in EDSA Boni, I got more than 100 Mbps based on Speedtest result. Look at the screenshot on my phone below.
Now, these huge operators are still working for expanding the free Internet access in other establishments, malls, public transportation hubs, schools and hospitals.
Not only in EDSA
This FREE WiFi project is part of the National Broadband infrastructure of the Duterte Administration. Other public areas will experience the same in the coming months.
The NAIA airport was the first to enjoy high-speed internet.
