DICT to launch over 15,000 free Wi-Fi sites in 2023

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is eyeing to launch more than 15,000 free Wi-Fi sites in 2023,  Malacañang said on Monday.

Citing the DICT's year-end report, Palace said this plan aims to improve the country's digital infrastructure and investment promotion as well as strengthen the bureaucratic efficiency.

"Under its digital infrastructure thrust, the DICT plans to complete the Broadband ng Masa’s Luzon Bypass Infrastructure (LBI) Phase 1 in the first half of 2023, launch more than 15,000 free Wi-Fi sites, and improve satellite connectivity with Starlink and Satellite Systems Providers and/or Operators (SSPOs)," Palace said in its press release.

"To promote investments, the Digital Cities Program will set up Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) locations in 31 cities by 2025 to generate jobs in the countryside," it added.

It was, however, not disclosed and specified in what areas the free Wi-Fi sites will be launched.

Further, the agency would push for the development and enforcement of interagency initiatives including the National ID of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), iLGU of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Vaxcert of the Department of Health (DOH), E-Commerce of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and OFW App of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

The DICT will also play a significant role in the enforcement of the SIM Card registration, which will start on December 27.

Signed into law on October 10, the SIM Card Registration Act mandates all public telecommunications entities (PTEs) or direct sellers of SIM cards to require users to present a valid identification document with a photo upon purchase.

For 2022, the DICT said it had activated 4,757 live sites across the country under the Philippine government's digitalization initiative. This was in addition to the 606 cities and municipalities which underwent digitalization, it added.

The DICT also launched the e-Gov Super App, the country’s first one-stop platform for local and national government services that will streamline processes and transactions and ensure ease of doing business for Filipinos.—AOL, GMA Integrated News