Manila puts up free Wi-Fi digital kiosks along España

DIGITAL KIOSK. Manila Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso tests the MNL Konek Digital Kiosk along España Boulevard on Monday (Aug. 3, 2020). Domagoso is joined by Manila City Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan (Photo grabbed from Isko Moreno Domagoso FB page via PNA)

MANILA – The city of Manila launched 34 units of MNL Konek Digital Kiosks on Monday along España Boulevard, which will provide free Wi-Fi to students and residents in the area.

Manila Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso said this has been an old project but because of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, this has been put to a halt for some time.

The project, a joint partnership with Eastern Communications, aims to provide free Wi-Fi signals for students who are living or are staying in dormitories in the area.

The 34 digital kiosks were placed along España Boulevard in Manila up to Morayta.

Domagoso said that more MNL Konek digital kiosks will be eventually set up at the university belt areas where most universities and dormitories in Manila are located.

The digital kiosks can provide up to 200 Mbps (megabits per second) of broadband speed, with 30 Mbps for download and 50 Mbps for upload, according to Domagoso.

The kiosks can connect up to 100 users simultaneously from a range of 50 to 100-meter radius.

He said with the upcoming school opening as announced by the Department of Education (DepEd), this will at least provide free internet access to students around the area.

Meanwhile, Domagoso assured that all students from elementary, high school, and senior high school “will have their own bandwidth as we promised two months ago, plus the tablet and laptop for our teachers”.