Smart upgrades NAIA WiFi service to boost tourism

To boost tourism in the country, Smart Communications Inc., the wireless arm of PLDT Inc., upgraded its connectivity service at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to carrier-grade Wi-Fi.

"This state-of-the-art communications infrastructure will help boost the country's tourism industry. Today's travelers are constantly online and rely on mobile apps for information and services that make their trips more enjoyable and productive," PLDT and Smart Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said on Friday.

Each of the four terminals of NAIA now have a WiFi capacity of 1 gigabit per second.

"The upgraded service can provide seamless digital service to 3,000 users simultaneously," PLDT spokesperson Ramon Isberto told reporters on the sidelines of the launch.

The service improvement at the four NAIA terminals was done under a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on installing high-speed Wi-Fi service in key transport hubs across the country within the first 100 days of the Duterte administration.

DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade expressed his gratitude to PLDT and Smart for the improved Wi-Fi service at the airports. "I thank PLDT for making my belief – that all the point of entries and exits in the country can have internet connectivity – possible."

Finina Gorres, vice president and head of Enterprise Customer Operations Management of PLDT, noted the Wi-Fi service is free beyond one hour until October 10.

"It's free until the end of the first 100 days of Secretary Tugade," Gorres said. — VDS, GMA News