VietNamNet Bridge – The central coastal city of Da Nang has officially covered its territory with Wi-Fi signal after a year-long trial, looking towards making internet connection more convenient for tourists and locals and building a smart urban infrastructure.

The Wi-Fi system makes internet connection more convenient for both locals and tourists in Da Nang City.

According to Pham Kim Son, Director of the municipal Department of Information and Communication, the Wi-Fi service will be provided for free at least until the end of 2016 and then the city will charge the users who want to improve their internet line quality.

With about 330 base transceiver stations, Wi-Fi access points have been installed on lighting poles in inner city and public buildings in key locations across the city including universities, tourist sites, apartments and 29 state departments and agencies.

The Wi-Fi system has now improved considerably in terms of internet connection quality, broadband speed and access time, with Wi-Fi signals being stronger and more widespread compared to the trial period. Approximately 20,000 successful internet connections have been recorded per day via the city’s Wi-Fi system.

Time and bandwidth are not limited as users access the municipal web portal (www.danang.gov.vn) and tourist portal (www.danangtourism.gov.vn), as well as websites of the city’s departments, districts and online services.

The launching of the public Wi-Fi system is aimed at changing the internet practices among the residential community, especially targeting the old and workers who have little access to information technology, according to Director Son.

The wireless network will enable people to read newspapers and look for information online, thus improving their access to information. The move also exhibits Da Nang’s expectation to succeed in forming Vietnam’s first e-citizen generation, Son has said.

Alongside the purpose of serving locals and tourists, the municipal Wi-Fi system has also been used for environmental pollution supervision and alert, urban transport management, social order management and warning of natural disasters and dangers brought in by climate change.

Nhan Dan/VGP