DICT to enhance free WIFI in MRT 3 stations, trains
Metro Rail Transit Line 3 at Edsa-North Avenue Station (Niño Jesus Orbeta/Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA – The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) looks to enhance the existing free WIFI coverage in the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) stations and boost rail line services by adopting cashless fare payments and better security.
In a statement on Tuesday, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said the enhanced free WiFi would be implemented across all MRT-3 stations, with a long-term goal to expand the free WiFi even inside trains.
“To make this happen, the DICT is working closely with major telecommunications providers to ramp up bandwidth and improve coverage in critical transit zones. These upgrades will include in-station fiber networks and enhanced signal infrastructure,” Aguda said.
He said initial improvements would be felt by the public within the next month, and Internet speed would continue to increase in the months to follow.
To date, he said, the expansion of the free WIFI program to the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) and Line 2 (LRT-2) is still being studied.
“This makes MRT-3 the pilot for a broader digital transformation across the country’s major train lines, with lessons learned here shaping future rollouts,” he said.
Cashless fare payments
In addition to better free WiFi, the DICT and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) are collaborating on the implementation of contactless fare payments via credit and debit cards, e-wallets, and smartphones.
The DICT is also eyeing the use of artificial intelligence or AI-powered security screening systems to speed up safety checks.
“By combining strengthened inter-agency partnerships with people-first digital solutions, the DICT and DOTr are paving the way for commutes that are not only more efficient, but more dignified – transforming daily train rides into daily wins,” Aguda said.
On Monday, Aguda joined DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon in an inspection of MRT-3 stations and trains from the North Avenue Station to the Santolan-Annapolis Station.
During the inspection, he and Dizon spoke with passengers to hear their concerns and suggestions that would improve the experience of commuters. (PNA)
