Wireless Internet Providers, Philippines

Wireless Internet Providers in the Philippines are making their presence felt in full-page and full-spread newspaper advertisements. The two Wi-Fi internet service providers I've seen so far are connected with PLDT and Globe.

» Related Manila WiFi Links area updated: June 3, 2003 (Click Here)

Airborne Access is an ePLDT company that is powered by PLDT myDSL to give you wireless Broadband Internet connection. This Wi-Fi provider gives you 30 hotspots around Metro Manila. Here are some of them:

NAIA Airport Lounges (Pasay)
Hari-Raya Restaurant (Pasay)
AIM (Makati)
Mobile I (Greenbelt, Makati)
Restaurant 12 (Makati)
Rockwell
Seattle's Best Coffee (Libis) [Didn't know they had an internet cafe]
Figaro (Mandaluyong)

(Comment: Coffee and wireless internet connections in a cafe. Sounds like the Third Place will slowly disappear, as communal areas increasingly become individual-focused.)

GlobeQUEST introduces WIZ (Wireless Internet Zone), "the advanced wireless service that lets you connect to the Internet at ultra-fast broadband speeds -- without the wires." It makes use of WiFi (Wireless Fidelity) technology. Unfortunately, the ad did not list the WIZ hotspots in Metro Manila and other cities nationwide. To find the nearest wireless internet hotspot, please dial 75QUEST or +63(2)7578378)

Will wireless internet service providers thrive in the Philippines? Perhaps if you can get enough "influential" people to spread the usefulness or coolness of wireless broadband connections to their friends then maybe, MAYBE, this will take off.

Still, how many people lug around a laptop? Mostly office folks and some students. If only we could do the same with affordable cellphones, this will have a better chance of getting popular.

Related Links:

Wins Chiu's Mapalad Blogspot
http://mapalad.blogspot.com

MaPalad, the Philippine Palm Users' Group

ePLDT's Airborne Access
http://www.airborneaccess.net

Globe's WIZ
http://wiz.globequest.com.ph

Brighthand Forum: WiFi Access Points in Manila

Local WiFi provider (Airborne Access) has more 'hotspots' -- "PHILIPPINE wireless access provider Airborne Access has set up eight more wireless hotspots in Metro Manila, increasing their network to 18 areas in the area, the company said on Monday."

Inquirer article about WIZ: Internet Access Becomes Wireless -- "Hot spots are located in Ayala Greenbelt 2 and 3, Cebu City Sports Club, Greenhills Theater Mall, Pioneer Highlands, RCBC Eat Food Court, Cebu Waterfront Hotel, Ayala Center Cebu, Mactan International Airport, Legend Hotel in Mandaluyong, Kaya Restaurant branches on Jupiter Street and Rockwell, and the Makati and Mactan Shangri-La hotels."

(Have you tried these Wireless Internet Providers in the Philippines? Please let me know if you're happy with their service via the form below.)
[ First posted on 05/16/2003 by Manuel Viloria ]