Dumaguete: The Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI) has announced a new initiative to provide free Wi-Fi access in collaboration with internet service provider Starlink and the Department of Information and Communications Technology-Negros Island Region (DICT-NIR). NOCCI President Edward Du shared the plan during the DICT-NIR Bayanihan Roadshow, highlighting a renewed vision for connectivity similar to a previous project that failed to launch.
According to Philippines News Agency, the NOCCI's earlier project envisioned connecting 80 public schools with free Wi-Fi within eight years with the help of eight donors. However, challenges like the Covid-19 pandemic and infrastructure damage due to a typhoon prevented its success. The new project, coined as the "888 project," aims to provide Wi-Fi to 80,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across 800 schools nationwide over the next eight years utilizing Starlink's satellite technology.
Edward Du expressed optimism about a new collaboration with DICT-NIR, drawing from past cooperative efforts with DICT in Central Visayas (Region 7). In August of the previous year, NOCCI and DICT initiated a project deploying 85 Starlink satellites to deliver free Wi-Fi in the Negros Island Region.
The NOCCI website details the planned installation of Starlink satellite dishes across 25 local government units, 40 public schools, five hospitals, and 20 public plazas within the newly-established Negros Island Region (NIR), marking a significant step forward in enhancing digital connectivity for the region.
