Nearly 11,000 free WiFi sites already installed nationwide —DICT

Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Gregorio Honasan II on Tuesday said 10,996 free WiFi sites have already been installed across the country.

Reporting to President Rodrigo Duterte, Honasan said the installation of these sites is under the Free WiFi for All program of the DICT.

“Meron na rin tayo ngayong 10,996 free WiFi sites na nakakabit sa buong bansa, that's our tally as of now [We already have 10,996 free WiFi sites that have been installed nationwide),” he said.

According to Honasan, the program had a 500% boost in 2020. He said it averaged 800 sites from 2016 to 2019, but last year it increased to 4,305.

The DICT earlier said the government needs two more years to provide free Wi-Fi connections to all 43,000 barangays and elementary schools across the nation.

In August 2017, Duterte signed the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act, which mandates the government to provide free internet access in public spaces across the country.

In January 2018, DICT said it plans to put up 250,000 Wi-Fi access points across the country before 2022, when the six-year term of Duterte ends. —KBK, GMA News