Industry giant PLDT Inc.’s Smart Communications is rolling out free high-speed internet to more government emergency facilities fighting COVID-19.
In a statement, Smart said it was deploying carrier-grade Wi-Fi at New Clark City in Tarlac province and the Philippine Army Gymnasium in Taguig City. These will accommodate COVID-19 patients under investigation and persons under monitoring.
The move adds to previously announced Wi-Fi hubs at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila and Philippine International Convention Center and World Trade Center in Pasay City.
Smart Wi-Fi was also deployed in La Salle Greenhills in Mandaluyong City and Far Eastern University in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, which are housing COVID-19 front-liners from nearby hospitals.
“This rollout is part of PLDT-Smart’s commitment to equip our front-liners with reliable connectivity and relevant digital tools to help them during this nationwide COVID-19 response,” Alfredo Panlilio, Smart president and CEO and PLDT chief revenue officer, said in a statement.
Smart said a Wi-Fi hub has a capacity of up to 1 gigabyte per second.
These are the latest in the group’s ongoing efforts to provide communications support to front-line agencies and personnel, local governments and nongovernment organizations in different parts of the country.“We are one with the nation in this critical moment, and we want to provide as much support as we can to our front-liners,” said Jovy Hernandez, ePLDT president and CEO and senior vice president and head of the enterprise business group.
Smart Wi-Fi connectivity is also available in provincial capitols, city and municipal halls across the country, which are being used as base of operations for local government logistics, transportation and relief, as well as in hospitals, supermarkets and convenience stores. INQ