Free? Cheaper? Accessible internet?

Wow! In a short two and a half years, or by 2028, according to Information and Communications Secretary Henry Aguda, Filipinos will have more access to “free” WiFi and “cheaper” internet as the Department of Information and Communications Technology works to improve infrastructure sharing among the country’s telecoms players, and with the help of Elon Musk’s Starlink.

The catch, of course, he revealed during his presentation Monday at the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP) Infrastructure Forum held at Fairmont Hotel in Makati, is that the DICT needs an additional P9 billion for the agency’s free WiFi for all program.

Thus, “free” is not exactly free because all government money comes from taxpayers from whom the government raises the funds it needs to provide services.

And as we all know, much of our collected tax payments are squandered by our lawmakers and corrupt officials through various “ambitious” infrastructure projects that may eventually end up being privatized anyway, as can be seen with the privatization of our airports and even with our road infrastructure.

The DICT, Aguda said, targets to establish 50,000 free WiFi spots that will supposedly benefit 9.8 million users across 1,401 cities and municipalities, including 3040 geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

The DICT’s program aims to improve internet connectivity in public places across the country, including hospitals, basic education institutions, state universities and colleges, airports and seaports.

Forgive my ignorance, but even now when there are claims that free internet is already available in some areas, I have never had the opportunity to connect to such “free” internet.

Perhaps the DICT could inform the public of where there is available internet so that we can really test if there is such “free” internet, because as far as I am concerned I have to subscribe to both Smart and Globe to stay connected.

And to be honest, my data roaming expense is not cheap because it is a necessary outlay for my profession, which is to stay informed.

I do enjoy free internet in hotels and some restaurants, but more often the signal is provided by Smart or Globe, so I am not sure where “free” government WiFi is available. Or does it only refer to government offices, for which access still requires a passcode?

Will the free internet access be similar to what other countries such as Japan and Korea are able to provide? Travelers to those two countries can attest to the ease of availing of free internet while traveling through their country through their railway system.

Of course, free access is subject to exposure to malware and unwanted advertising. Thus, to be honest, I would still be wary of using so-called free internet access, especially here in our country.

There was even an interesting, but brief, discussion during the EJAP forum on the failure of the so-called SIM card registration to eliminate spam messages.

According to Secretary Aguda, the DICT is targeting to cut internet costs by 30 to 50 percent on or before the end of the Marcos administration’s term by increasing the use of assets through facility sharing. This, of course, involves the cooperation of Smart, Globe, and Converge, whose representatives also attended the EJAP Infrastructure Forum.

I wonder if Dito is or will be part of the planned facility sharing.

According to Aguda, the DICT has implemented a common tower policy as a cost-effective way to expand internet signal without having to put up separate infrastructure for the telecom players and the government. The common tower facilities can be built by independent tower companies and leased out, allowing more users.

The DICT, Aguda assured, is negotiating with service providers to bring down contract prices.

Representatives from PLDT, Globe and Converge were also present during the EJAP forum.

Eric Santiago, PLDT Inc. head of network strategy and engineering, agreed that the only way to bring down costs is for all local telco players to “co-build” infrastructure like cell towers and subsea cable network.

Converge’s term for the telco’s joint effort is “convergence together,” while Globe’s Estrada use the term “coopetition.”

The country’s telco players have been teaming up with foreign entities in laying out international fiber cable networks to improve data delivery.

DOTr

As for the Department of Transportation, Secretary Vince Dizon said that there has been some positive developments with regards to the agency’s right of way problems that continue to delay major projects such as the Metro Manila Subway Project. However, the so-called developments were not enough for him to announce new completion dates.

He was more optimistic with the airport privatization, such as that being undertaken by Ramon Ang’s infrastructure arm for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, as well as for the Caticlan airport that services Boracay Island, and likewise for the takeover by the Aboitiz Group of the Bohol-Panglao International Airport.

One major update he announced was the planned expansion of the third segment of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension, which would involve the construction of another stop in Barangay Talaba, Bacoor, Cavite.

LRT-1 is actually operated by the Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC), which is owned by a consortium of companies that include the Metro Pacific Light Rail Corporation (MPLRC), AC Infrastructure Holdings Corporation (AC Infra), Sumitomo Corp. and Macquarie Investments Holdings (Philippines).

MPLRC is a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. while AC Infra is a subsidiary of Ayala Corp.

According to Dizon, the DOTr the project will cost P3 billion, but which the DOTr will finance using its own budget. He did not explain the DOTr’s decision. Once the project is delivered, hopefully by 2028, the DOTr will turn over its management to LRMC.