The local government unit (LGU) of Pasig City forged a partnership with Globe on Monday to provide residents with faster and affordable internet connection through GoWiFi and KonekTayo WiFi services.
“Thank you, Globe, for partnering with the Local Government of Pasig,” Mayor Vico Sotto said. “GoWiFi and KonekTayo WiFi now available at City Hall, Plaza Rizal, Plaza Bonifacio, our public hospitals, and more to come.”
KonekTayo WiFi is a community WiFi service that offers affordable internet access, wherein people only need to connect to a KonekTayoWiFi hotspot and purchase a surfing load promo to access the internet.
With the partnership, KonekTayo WiFi buses equipped with special antennas that broadcast WiFi signal will be deployed in select areas in the city.
Internet access via the KonekTayo WiFi buses will be available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day at the Ilaya Covered Court, Santolan Big Ampitheatre, and Kapitolyo San Joaquin Elementary School.
Moreover, five housing projects of the city government will be soon powered by KonekTayo WiFi, including the Pasig City Bliss Housing, Eusebio Bliss Village, Maybunga Housing Project, Eusebio Bliss IV - Karangalan, and Karangalan Village.
“We've been working hard for the LGU to become more business friendly by streamlining processes, especially for permits. Fighting corruption also plays a big part in this,” Sotto said.
“Because of this, you can expect a stronger partnership of the LGU with the private sector, and you can also expect the signal and internet connection in Pasig to be stronger in the coming years,” he added.
Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Chairman and CEO of Ayala Corporation and Chairman of Globe Telecom, noted the surge in the demand for a fast and reliable internet connection during the pandemic.
“This age of the pandemic continues to demand timely, innovative solutions and we remain committed to heeding this call through our digital products and services. The Bus WiFi project is an example of this,” he said in a statement.
“By deploying WiFi-enabled buses to neighborhoods that are difficult to reach, we’re able to accelerate internet access especially with the sudden need for accessible connectivity spurred by the pandemic,” he added.
For his part, Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu said, “We are honored to partner with the City of Pasig in enabling better and richer digital experiences through access to user-friendly and cost-effective internet connectivity for every Pasigueño.”
“With this partnership, we can better help the communities in Pasig thrive amid the demands and pressures of the pandemic. More importantly, Pasig is now in a better position to become a 21st century city, and achieve its digital transformation goals,” he added.
GoWiFi currently has more than 2,800 hotspots nationwide.