Melo Villareal
Smart Upgrades NAIA’s Wi-Fi Service To ‘Carrier-Grade’
Passengers of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) can now enjoy unlimited high-speed Internet surfing, thanks to the Wi-Fi upgrade of Smart Communications Inc. until October 10.
Now, each of NAIA’s four terminals have access to a “carrier grade” 1 gigabit per second Wi-Fi capacity. This allows at least 3,000 users to simultaneously access the Internet without lag.
The Wi-Fi service upgrade at NAIA was done upon agreement of a memorandum by the Department of Transportation (DOTr). This would be available within the first 100 days of the present administration that will last until October 10. The DOTr expressed gratitude for making the faster Internet connectivity service possible and available in the country.
According to PLDT’s vice president, Finina Gorres, who also happens to be the head of Enterprise Customer Operations Managements, the faster Wi-Fi service is not just free for one hour but is available for unlimited use until October 10.
Manuel “Manny” V. Pangilinan, Smart and PLDT Chairman, also said in his speech recently that the upgrade will help boost the country’s tourism industry.
“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,” Pangilinan said in a statement.
Before that, PLDT and Smart had already upgraded several regional airports Wi-Fi service to carrier-grade capacity. The first regional airports which had their upgrades are Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao which had its service upgrade available on July 19.
Other regional airports include Clark International Airport in Pampanga, Kalibo International Airport in Aklan, Bacolod-Silay International Airport, Dumaguete-Sibulan Airport, General Santos International Airport, Iloilo International Airport, Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental, Laoag International Airport, Roxas Airport, and Zamboanga Airport.
Eric R. Alberto, PLDT and Smart executive vice president, also said that the company is planning to provide the same service to other domestic and international airports located in Bohol, Caticlan, Cebu, and Puerto Princesa.
“With the installation of Smart Wi-Fi at NAIA terminals, we are on track to meeting our commitment to government to make available carrier-grade Wi-Fi services in major transport hubs all over the country, which will be a boon to domestic and international tourism,” Alberto also added.
After the end of the first 100 days of the present administration, the high-speed Wi-Fi access will just be free for one hour.
Sources: philstar.com/, bworldonline.com/, gmanetwork.com/
