Converge partners with DOTr, airports for free public WiFi in 9 airports in PH

 MANILA -- Converge ICT Solutions Inc. (Converge), the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and airport operators agreed to provide free public WiFi services at the passenger terminals of nine international and domestic airports across the country.

“The joint project signifies our commitment to improve the connectivity services in our transport facilities, particularly in our airports and we also recognized the vital role played by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in this initiative,” DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said.

The memorandum of agreement was signed on November 17 with the DOTr, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA), Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), and Davao International Airport Authority (DIAA) for the provisioning of free, fast, and reliable internet services in the departure and arrival areas of selected airports in the country.

Secretary of Justice and CAAP Board Principal Member Crispin Remulla said, the DOJ fully supports the transformation of the airports and passengers’ safety and convenience as the priority of this administration. Through the board memberships, CAAP provides legal clarity and certainty for all partners and stakeholders.

 Converge CEO and Co-Founder Dennis Anthony Uy on the other hand said, the airports are gateways to and from the country and they play a vital role in leaving a positive impression on the Philippines for tourists and locals alike.

“As an ICT company, we recognize our role in providing the connectivity and the right technology to ensure that people have a great experience in these facilities. It is therefore, our honor to extend our capabilities to the DOTr, CAAP, and all our partner airports as we work together to empower travelers in this digital age,” Uy added.

Converge is given 90 days from the signing of the MOA to come out with a roll-out plan and expects to launch its first free public WiFi by the first quarter of 2023.  Converge is bringing together its technology partners to provide this free WiFi service to airport passengers.

The free public connectivity covers the arrival and departure areas of all the terminals of Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Francisco Bangoy International Airport, and Mactan-
Cebu International Airport.

 Several CAAP-operated airports are also covered in the project which are Bacolod-Silay Airport, Iloilo International Airport, Laoag International Airport; Pagadian Airport; Tacloban Airport; and Zamboanga International Airport.

Through this partnership, Converge will provide free access to fast, reliable, and secure internet services for 120 minutes a day per registered user. Passengers will experience a minimum bandwidth speed of 1Gbps at 80 percent service reliability at the arrival and departure areas of each passenger terminal building of the said airports, Uy bared.

 

 As of the third quarter of 2022, Converge has more than 6.7 million fiber ports nationwide, making it the largest fiber infrastructure network in the Philippines, putting its household coverage at 53 percent.  “We are on track to reach the accelerated target to cover approximately 55 percent of households in the Philippines by 2023, Uy concluded. (Photos: Converge FB/Google Images)