PH needs 50,000 password-free Wi-Fi hotspots to boost growth

Lawmakers are pushing for the installation of at least 50,000 password-free Wi-Fi hotspots nationwide to improve internet connectivity and stimulate economic growth in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), Makati City Rep. Luis Campos Jr. said on Sunday.

“Our target is at least 50,000 Wi-Fi hotspots where the public can freely access the internet. This means the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) must put up 36,538 new hotspots on top of the 13,462 already built as of June 2024,” Campos, vice chairperson of the House committee on appropriations, said.

The initiative is part of the Free Public Internet Access Program (FPIAP), which is fully funded under the Free Internet Access in Public Places Law.

The government collects spectrum user fees from private telecommunications companies to fund the project.

In 2024 alone, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released a total of PHP 6.13 billion for the FPIAP, with PHP 2.45 billion released in February and an additional PHP 3.68 billion in August.

Lawmakers want the DBM to provide more funds whenever the DICT utilizes 70% of its existing budget to either pay for internet subscriptions or expand Wi-Fi coverage.

Campos revealed that DICT currently spends around PHP 500 million monthly for the 13,462 hotspots, which now cater to 10 million unique users.

“There’s no question that highly improved internet connectivity can help drive economic growth,” Campos said.

He pointed out that a 10% increase in the country’s internet penetration rate could generate up to PHP 342 billion in new economic benefits, citing studies supporting this claim.

The public hotspots are mandated to be installed in key locations such as parks, plazas, barangay halls, public schools, and health centers.

The goal is to provide internet access in public spaces where connectivity is crucial for socioeconomic development.

Campos is also the author of House Bill No. 10215, which seeks to reclassify internet service as a basic telecommunications service, rather than a value-added service, thereby ensuring every Filipino has the right to internet access.

The bill also proposes empowering the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to set rising minimum internet speed targets for telcos, with penalties for non-compliance reaching up to PHP 1 million per day.

Despite improvements, the Philippines still lags behind regional neighbors in internet speed.

As of July 2024, the country’s average mobile internet speed was only 33.18 Mbps, compared to Singapore’s 108.73 Mbps, Malaysia’s 104.80 Mbps, and Vietnam’s 55.41 Mbps, based on Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index.

The planned expansion of password-free Wi-Fi access aims to bridge this gap and unlock new opportunities for economic growth, particularly in rural areas.