Free Wi-Fi expands via True-BMA plan

Free Wi-Fi expands via True-BMA plan

Starting today Bangkokians will be able to use free public Wi-Fi service at 23,000 hotspots courtesy of the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority (BMA) and True Corp.

Three more mobile operators and internet service providers are planning to join the "Bangkok WiFi" project to expand the service throughout Bangkok.

Under a three-year agreement ending in April 2015 between BMA and True Internet, a subsidiary of True Corp, the Bangkok Wi-Fi service will offer two download speeds _ 256 Kbps and 2 Mbps _ and it can serve up to 150,000 users.

The 2 Mbps is free for five hours per month, while the 256 Kbps is unlimited, said Non Ingkutanon, True's general manager for broadband. Users are required to register every six months to renew the service.

The coverage includes 450 schools under the BMA's supervision, hospitals, transport stations, department stores, main streets and parks.

True is responsible for the costs of Wi-Fi equipment, installation, maintenance and service signs.

"The standard of our service is equal to public Wi-Fi services in the United States or Singapore," said Mr Non.

The BMA has rolled out free public Wi-Fi service in Bangkok at 15,000 locations the past three years, offered at 64 Kbps.

The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Ministry is also offering free public Wi-Fi at 20,000 locations around Greater Bangkok. An additional 20,000 Wi-Fi hotspots are expected by October this year.

The 40,000 hotspots, under the ICT's fiscal budget for 2012, will have an average speed of 2 Mbps serving mainly educational areas.

Mr Non said a faster Wi-Fi speed is needed as mobile users spend around 30 minutes only on each connection.

Mr Non said the service did not cost True anything as it was part of the existing Wi-Fi infrastructure. It just allocated some bandwidth to the public service.

True provides a minimum commercial Wi-Fi service at 8 Mbps for 599 baht per month. Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said wireless internet access will narrow the digital divide.

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