Philippines Allocates P112 Million for Free WiFi in Tourist Spots

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is set to roll out free WiFi in 323 key tourist destinations across the Philippines, allocating over P112 million for the project. This initiative, part of the Free Public Internet Access Program (FPIAP), aims to boost connectivity in popular tourist spots and support President Marcos' goal of connecting 60 percent of Filipinos to the web by 2028. The WiFi Internet Access in Tourists Spots (WITS) project will cover areas in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. This includes ports facilitating travel to Boracay, such as Caticlan Jetty Port and Tabon Port in Aklan, and popular beaches like El Nido Beach in Palawan and White Beach in San Vicente. Mountain Province's tourist sites, including those near the Hanging Coffins and Bontoc Museum, are also beneficiaries. In Mindanao, the project will extend to 20 sites in Zamboanga Peninsula, three in Basilan, two in Sulu, and three in Tawi-Tawi, reaching even remote locations. The DICT is seeking an Internet Service Provider (ISP) capable of supplying, installing, and commissioning enterprise-grade internet per location using low earth orbit (LEO) satellites. The minimum technical requirements include a download bandwidth of 100 Mbps, an upload speed of 10 Mbps, a data allocation of two TB, and latency below 60 milliseconds. The contract will span 365 days, with service expected to be operational within 30 days of the notice to proceed. A pre-bid conference is scheduled for August 6, followed by bid submissions and opening on August 18. The DICT is actively bridging the digital divide through a combination of private partnerships and its own programs like FPIAP, which establishes WiFi sites in public spaces.