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Analysis

Taiwan launches free public Wi-Fi

By Pia Rufino | 8 July 2011

The citizens and foreign travellers can now enjoy free wireless Internet services in Taipei city major public areas.

In its drive to become ‘Intelligent fibre city’, the Taipei government in Taiwan has started its free wireless Internet services in public facilities on July 1.

City Mayor Hau Lung-bin has launched the “TPE-Free” service, which he said will be available for residents and visitors, Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA) reported.

Hau said the service is initially accessible in places such as mass rapid transit stations, underground shopping malls, city government offices, city hospitals and libraries.

By October, the network will be expanded to major streets and avenues, residential areas, densely populated public places and at least 800 city buses.

Currently, the 512K bandwidth-service can only support light use, including Web browsing and e-mail access.

Those who wish to avail of the service may apply for a free account at “TPE-Free.”

Foreign visitors can also bring their passports to Taipei Songshan Airport or tourism service centres across the city to register for the service, Hau said.

The CNA report noted Taipei was chosen as the model for wireless and broadband city at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

It cited estimates from the Taipei City Department of Information Technology that an average of 500,000 people per month will be using the free Wi-Fi service by October.

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