Free ‘carrier-grade’ WiFi deployed in public, health facilities

In a statement on Tuesday, Smart said carrier-grade, fiber-powered Smart Wifi is now available at the city halls of Manila, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon, San Juan, Taguig, and Valenzuela. (File Photo by Paul Hanaoka/Unsplash)

MANILA – To ensure that frontline workers, particularly medical staff, will have access to accurate information amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) community quarantine, the Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has provided “carrier-grade” WiFi in numerous health facilities and public establishments.

In a statement on Tuesday, Smart said carrier-grade, fiber-powered Smart Wifi is now available at the city halls of Manila, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon, San Juan, Taguig, and Valenzuela.

It said frontline workers were detailed at the health and public establishments which serve as operation centers for local government operations, transportation, and delivery of relief services to the Luzon residents affected by the enhanced community quarantine.

Outside Metro Manila, Smart said free WiFi access has also been installed in the provinces particularly in Benguet and the Baguio City Hall; Laoag City Hall in Ilocos Norte; the city and municipal halls of Baliwag, Bocaue, Marilao, Malolos, and Meycauayan in Bulacan; at the municipal halls of Tanza, Bacoor, and Trece Martires in Cavite; at the provincial capitol of Laguna and in the city and municipal halls of Biñan, Cabuyao, Carmona, and Santa Rosa; at the provincial capitol of Batangas and in the city and municipal halls of Sto. Tomas and Tanauan; and at the city hall of Puerto Princesa in Palawan.

The free WiFi service has also been rolled out in similar establishments in Visayas and Mindanao.

“It is available at the provincial capitol of Cebu, the city and municipal halls of Bogo, Cebu, Mandaue, and Consolacion and the Cebu Public Library; at the provincial capitol of Iloilo; at the city halls of Ormoc, Tacloban and Tacloban Public Market in Leyte; at the Panglao municipal hall and Panglao Public Market in Bohol; at the city hall of Roxas City in Capiz; At the Sangguniang Panglungsod ng Davao; at the city halls of Oroquieta and Ozamiz in Misamis Occidental; at the provincial capitol of Misamis Oriental and the city hall of Cagayan de Oro City; and at the city halls of Dapitan and Dipolog in Zamboanga del Norte,” Smart said.

Supermarkets and Hospitals

Aside from providing enhanced connectivity installed in local government establishments, Smart said its free WiFi service is also available in select Lawson and Ministop convenience stores in Metro Manila, as well as some branches of Robinson’s Supermarkets and Super 8 in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, and Tarlac.

In Luzon, Smart has already provided free WiFi to the Asian Hospital, Philippine Orthopedic Center, De Los Santos Medical Center, Marikina Valley Medical Center, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, Dr. Jesus M Delgado Hospital, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Chinese General Hospital, Novaliches District Hospital, and Pasay General Hospital.

In the Visayas, free WiFi access can be found at the Cebu Doctors University and City Hospital in Mandaue City, Adventist Hospital in Cebu City, Doctors Hospital Bacolod, Bacolod Adventist Medical Center, and Riverside Medical Center in Bacolod, Ramiro Community Hospital in Tagbilaran City, City Hospital of Tacloban City, Capiz Emmanuel Hospital, Iloilo Mission Hospital, The Health Centrum Hospital in Roxas.

In Mindanao, health workers and patients may access free WiFi at the Mayor Hilarion Ramiro Medical Center in Misamis Occidental, Adventist Medical Center in Iligan City, at Davao Doctors Hospital and Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City, West Metro Medical Center in Zamboanga del Sur, and at St Elizabeth Hospital, The Medical Plaza 1 and 2, and Sta Ana Medical Building in General Santos City.