Denis Santos
The government is planning to install 100,000 Wi-Fi spots in the country and will be placed in areas that have no internet connection.
It is reported that the government is allocating 3 billion pesos for the 10-year internet project that envisions to put up a total of 100,000 Wi-Fi sites nationwide. This is to give a solution to the poor internet access and connectivity in the Philippines.
Statistics Says
According to the 2016 data of the United Nations Broadband Commission for Development, only 3 out of 10 homes in the country have internet access. According to Philippine Statistics Authority, the Philippines had 20.98 million households in 2015. The Philippines also ranked 64th among 138 countries in terms of the number of households that have an internet connection.
The Philippines also ranked 64th among 138 countries in terms of the number of households that have an internet connection. The ranking showed South Korea is among the Asian countries that lead the list with over 98% of its homes has internet access.
On the other hand, based on UNBCD’s data also, other developing countries such as Fiji, Bhutan, Ghana, Indonesia, Jamaica, Sudan and Uzbekistan have surpassed the Philippines in terms of internet connectivity.
Jorge Sarmiento, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Usec., said that Wi-Fi sites will be put up in public places.
“Sa mga park, plaza sa mga local government unit areas, health centers, pier ang lalagyan ng free public Wi-Fi,” he said.
[The site would include local parks and plazas, LGU areas, health centers, and even ports.]
“We are aiming to cover all municipalities in the country,” he continued.
Sarmiento and the whole DICT is fast-tracking the project as the plan for the national broadband program has been already approved by the President.
