School bus WiFi program launched in Manila
Under KonekTayo WiFi, Globe deploys school buses equipped with special antennas that broadcast WiFi signal from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Sunday, in covered areas
Admitting that connectivity plays a vital role in the prevention of mass gatherings and crowds to halt the spread of the coronavirus disease in the City of Manila, Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna yesterday lauded Globe Telecom Inc. for offering cheap WiFi rates for use in resident’s daily distant learning and remote working sessions.
During the launch of KonekTayo School Bus WiFi, the mayor thanked the whole Globe family, which was tapped by the city government to supply free connectivity to public school students, in addition to its approach of utilizing school buses for mobile connectivity, priced at P10 per gigabyte.
He cited the untiring support given by the Ayala Group of Companies, to which Globe is a part of, for donating the construction of the second swab testing laboratory at the Santa Ana Hospital.
“There are no words to say how residents have been so thankful for the continued support the Ayala family has been giving to Manila, particularly during this pandemic, as we have just received the said new building. This time, your new program to provide the cheapest cost of WiFi to Manilans through this school bus WiFi connection,” Domagoso said.
In order to make the Internet accessible to Filipinos, Globe Telecom yesterday officially launched its School Bus WiFi program in Manila. The kick-off also marked a new, bigger vision of Globe and KonekTayo WiFi to provide fast, reliable and low-cost home Internet connectivity in underserved markets in the locality.
Under KonekTayo WiFi, Globe deploys school buses equipped with special antennas that broadcast WiFi signal from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Sunday, in covered areas, including the following streets in Manila: Pasaje del Carmen, Remigio, Gonzalo Puyat, Bilibid Viejo, Tomas Mapua, Alfonso Mendoza, Dalupan, Oroquieta and Basco.
The use of KonekTayo WiFi will be free for the first hour for public school students and teachers in Manila who have been provided with 289,000 Globe SIM cards.
The campaign also allows Globe to support school bus operators whose main source of livelihood was put at stake by the pandemic.
Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Ayala Corporation chairman and CEO and Globe Telecom chairman, said, “Against the backdrop of COVID-19, Internet access has become a lifeline more than a luxury. Internet access is needed by students to pursue online education, by workers to continue earning a living while working from home, by families to stay connected with each other. With Globe’s School Bus WiFi in the City of Manila, we are able to help in ensuring that residents have access to affordable WiFi connectivity. We look to partner with other local governments to expand this initiative.”
Ernest Cu, Globe president and CEO, said, “We recognize the difficulties faced by the private school transport industry, especially now that classes have started. We sought to develop an innovation that will not only provide this industry with a new opportunity, but will also bring connectivity to students and communities in areas that need it most.”
To note, the city has been at the forefront of blended learning, ahead of other Metro Manila local governments, when the mayor announced the reprogramming of the city’s budget for the purchase of 300,000 tablets and 11,000 laptops that were given free to public school students and teachers.