Taipei residents and visitors to the city could start enjoying free wireless service at public locations throughout the city from April, as the Taipei City Government seeks to expand its wireless network service to 100 percent of the city and make it free of charge.
Expansion of the wireless network service, WiFly, which currently covers 93 percent of the city, and offering free wireless service were campaign promises made by Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) last year in his bid for re-election.
According to Taipei City Department of Information Commissioner Chang Chia-sheng (張家生), there are 5,000 wireless hotspots throughout the city, including most fast food and beverage chains, such as Starbucks, Burger King and MOS Burger, as well as 7-Eleven convenience stores and MRT stations.
The city government will need to add about 2,000 more hotspots to offer free wireless service throughout 100 percent of the city, Chang said.
The free service will not be limited to Taipei residents. Local and foreign visitors to the city will also be able to enjoy the service. Chang said the department will work out the details on whether users will need to register online to use the free service.
Currently, the WiFly service costs consumers NT$100 (US$3.44) per day, NT$399 per month or NT$4,200 per year.
The wireless initiative began with free trials in September 2004 and is part of the government’s “M-City” (mobile city) project initiated by President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) when he was Taipei mayor.
Turning the WiFly into a free wireless service will cost the city government about NT$100 million to NT$200 million a year, according to the department.
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