Philippines to Roll Out Nationwide Free Wi-Fi Service by 2016
- Wi-Fi network to push PLDT, Globe Telecom to improve services
- Initiative comes as lawmakers probe slow Internet connection
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The Philippines is planning free Wi-Fi services to half of its towns and cities this year and nationwide coverage by end-2016, limiting the data revenue prospects for Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. and Globe Telecom Inc.
The free Internet service will cost the government about 1.5 billion pesos ($32 million) a year and will be available in areas such as public schools, hospitals, airports and parks, said Monchito Ibrahim, deputy executive director of the Information and Communications Technology Office.