Smart-PLDT to provide free wifi on parade route
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
FOR the first time, Sinulog revelers will be able to enjoy access to the Internet in most parts of the grand parade and procession routes, a service that a private company will give to the Cebuanos for free.
With the free Internet access, revelers will be able to update their friends and relatives in other parts of the country and across the globe faster, since it will be easier to upload photos and messages on the internet.
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PLDT set up 18 WiFi access pointson Gen. Maxilom Ave., Gorordo Ave., Fuente Osmeña circle, Osmeña Blvd., N. Bacalso Ave., P. del Rosario St., which will be available for free until this Sunday.
Up to 4,000 Internet users can get free WiFi access at any given time.
“If you want to share highlights of the Sinulog, you can easily do so,” said Bong Lintag, head of PLDT’s Cebu Customer Service Zone.
“We just want the Cebuanos to enjoy the Sinulog,” another PLDT official said during the press conference at City Hall yesterday.
As for concerns that the free WiFi may be used by criminal elements and that incidents of theft will increase since people will be bringing out their gadgets during the parade, Cebu City Police Office Director Melvin Buenafe said security measures are in place.
Buenafe said Internet protocol security cameras will be installed in strategic areas of the parade and procession routes.
“Everything will be monitored through the cameras, which will be accessed by the crisis management committee, whose members will be stationed in our headquarters so that if there are untoward incidents, we can decide on what to do and act swiftly… The public should also be reminded to be careful when using their gadgets,” he said.
The public may get free Internet access by securing a PIN code from PLDT booths that will be set up along the parade route, which will be required for registration at pldtwifizone.com.
There will also be free WiFi at the Capitol building, City Hall, E-Block building at the IT Park, Magellan’s Cross, Plaza Independencia and at the Mactan Cebu International Airport. after the Sinulog, the WiFi zones will still be available for a certain fee.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on January 11, 2012.
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