There's now free internet at select MRT stations

Waiting for the next train at the MRT stations in Ortigas and Guadalupe may be a wee bit tolerable now that there’s free internet provided by Globe Telecom.

It’s not much. The maximum internet speed is set at 256kbps, and you are allowed to use the Wi-Fi connection for only 30 minutes. Think of it as a service provided in places such as Hong Kong’s metro lines, but with time limit and lower speed. However, we guess anything free that distracts you from the sorry state of the MRT is a welcome respite.

The maximum internet speed is set at 256kbps, and you are allowed to use the Wi-Fi connection for 30 minutes.

This development comes a month after Globe signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Transportation and Communication to provide free Wi-Fi at MRT-3 stations.

We reached out to Globe to determine which locations will get wireless infrastructure next, but it has yet to provide us with the roll-out schedule. We will update this story as soon as we get it.

The service, which is expected to benefit 350,000 passengers daily, “aims to help address issues on mobile signals along EDSA, especially during rush hours,” said Joel Agustin, Globe senior vice president for program governance.

This is in line with the company’s vision of ushering in a digital nation.

My take: I wish I had seen significant improvements of the MRT first before the deployment of Globe’s wireless infrastructure. After all, free internet is just an icing on the cake. The lack of Wi-Fi is not a deal-breaker; problems such as train breakdowns are.

The lack of Wi-Fi is not a deal-breaker; problems such as train breakdowns are.

My partner Ramon Lopez’s take: It’s always great to hear when a private company collaborates with the government to provide services that would otherwise require a significant amount of tax money to get off the ground, let alone roll out access to more areas. Here’s to seeing free Wi-Fi hotspots in more places of interest across the country in the coming months.

Image via MRT-3 Philippines on Facebook
Story via ABS-CBN

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Alora Uy Guerrero

Editor-in-chief: Alora Uy Guerrero has 22 years of experience as an editor for print and digital publications such as Yahoo. She took time off journalism to manage OPPO’s digital-marketing campaigns. When not busy with her babies, she’s working on Revü, a passion project — or probably traveling or obsessing over her favorite bands, movies, TV shows, and basketball teams.