After years of neglect and poor data connectivity, passengers passing through the Clark International Airport will experience a high-speed internet – courtesy of Philippine Long Distance Company (PLDT) and Smart Communications.
On Friday, the PLDT and Smart Communications have reinforced the data connectivity in the Clark airport, now the third busiest airport in the country.
The Clark airport in Mabalacat City, Pampanga, is the seventh airport to be installed with Smart Wifi nationwide, and the first in Luzon.
The service is already available in the Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City; Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental; Bacolod-Silay International Airport in Silay City; Iloilo International Airport in Iloilo City; Roxas Airport in Roxas City; and Zamboanga Airport in Zamboanga City. Soon, Smart Wifi will also be reinforced in all four terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, as well as in the airports of Cebu, Dumaguete, Kalibo, Caticlan, General Santos, and Laoag.
The Clark airport was identified by the Department of Transportation as one of 21 key transport hubs for installation of Smart Wifi as outlined in a landmark agreement signed last month between Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and PLDT and Smart chairman, president, and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan. The agreement aims to strengthen data connectivity in airports, seaports, railways, train stations, and bus terminals across the country.
More high traffic areas such as city halls, schools, hospitals, and malls, among others, will be covered by the service over time amid the increasing demand for more public Wifi hotspots in the country.
An initial investment of P1 billion has been earmarked this year for the first phase of the nationwide deployment of Smart Wifi, which will have a minimum backhaul of 1 gigabit. Higher bandwidth will be allocated for bigger transport hubs and sites.
Pangilinan has reaffirmed his commitment to fully develop the Clark airport, saying it’s a “better option” compared to proposed airports in Cavite and Bulacan.
Tugade expressed his gratitude to Smart and urged others to follow suit.