Starting today, the free wireless service initially launched in Taipei City in July will be expanded to outdoor areas, including major boulevards and commercial districts, as the city government plans to increase the wireless coverage rate to 100 percent by next year.
The service, called “TPE-Free,” has been available since July for anyone in the city, including foreign visitors, in MRT stations, city libraries, administrative centers and branches of Taipei City Hospital. People in the city can now enjoy free wireless service along 39 major roads, including Zhongxiao E Road, Renai Road and Zhongshan S Road.
Eight major commercial districts, e.g. Xinyi, Zhongxiao and Ximending, are also included in the free wireless service coverage range. The service is further available on 500 city buses.
Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) yesterday said the city government would list a budget of about NT$100 million (US$ 3 million) next year to expand the service to night markets and parks.
“We will turn Taipei into a wireless city, and make wireless service as convenient as breathing or drinking water,” he said at the launch ceremony.
According to Chang Chia-sheng (張家生), commissioner of the city’s Department of Information Technology, the number of people who have registered TPE-Free accounts reached 700,000 this month.
The department has set up 2,000 access points around the city and the service has a 512Kbps connection speed.
The expansion of the city’s free wireless service came after President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) announced on Tuesday that the free wireless service would be available at more than 2,500 government agencies starting on Friday.
Hau said the city government would incorporate the central government’s plan, since most of the government agencies are located in Taipei.
Taiwanese and Alien Resident Certificate holders can register for a free account using their mobile phone number, while foreign visitors can use their passport number to apply for the service at Taipei International Airport (Songshan) and visitor information centers throughout the city.
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