The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) announced yesterday that the free Wi-Fi services are now available in a total of six areas in Metro Manila as part of the agency’s pilot test. Despite the limited Internet speeds, heavy-bandwidth sites like YouTube will be accessible through free public Wi-Fi hotspots set up in Metro Manila.
According to DOST, the initial pilot test areas would test the performance of the Internet connectivity by the P1.4008-billion Free Wi-Fi in Public Places Project of the national government under the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III.
DOST Undersecretary Louis Napoleon Casambre, who is also the executive director of the department’s Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO), revealed during an interview that they will not block heavy-bandwidth websites.
The DOST Undersecretary Casambre said the initial plan was to formally open the public Wi-Fi hotspot on July 24, 2015 during the first day of the DOST’s National Science and Technology Week celebration at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
Although the Free Public Wi-Fi was already turned on by the DOST, the agency noted that they’re just not letting anybody in. The DOST revealed that the six areas for the pilot test of the project are Rizal Park in Manila, Quezon City Hall, the Quezon City Memorial Circle, the Philippine Coconut Authority (Philcoa) building at the Ellipitical Road and the Land Transportation Office and the Social Security System main offices along East Avenue.
The DOST also noted that they expects a maximum of 4,550 concurrent users in its public Internet service, it said it would be prepared to provide for and maintain the speed and connection quality for up to 105,000 users.