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Regulator stops WiFi offer The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) yesterday ordered the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and Globe Telecom, Inc. to stop offering wireless internet access in Metro Manila and other parts of the country. Telecommunication Commissioner Armi Jane R. Borje said the two firms have not secured permits to commercially offer internet access via wireless fidelity or WiFi -- a facility to connect a computer to the internet without using telephone lines. She said PLDT and Globe are selling wireless internet access using test permits, which allowed them only to study the feasibility of offering the access commercially. PLDT is already selling wireless internet access throughout the country, and even acquired WiFi service provider Airborne Access, which now operates under ePLDT company -- PLDT's information and communications technology arm. Globe, meanwhile, launched its wireless broadband internet service WIZ last May. The service allows those with WiFi laptops and personal digital assistants to access high-speed internet in coffee shops and other public places. Ms. Borje said PLDT and Globe were given only propagation test permits, and not official permits to operate wireless internet access commercially. She also pointed out that ePLDT's Airborne Access does not even have a permit to operate from the commission. "There is a ban in NCR (National Capital Region, or Metro Manila), Region 3 (Central Luzon) and Region 4 (in southern Luzon). Why are they rolling out in these areas? Why not wait for us to lift the ban? There is a public hearing on July 17," Ms. Borje said. "This is illegal. We can fine them. We are not against WiFi per se, that is why there will be a lifting of the ban," she stressed. Ms. Borje also said she recently wrote PLDT and Globe to clarify whether they now have WiFi hotspots in prohibited places. She also said there is a ban on the use of the 2.4-gigahertz frequency band used by WiFi, because of interference. This frequency band is also being used by Manila Electric Co. for internal communications. WiFi makes use of a specific radio frequency band to create a wireless network, which includes an access point or WiFi hotspot. WiFi is free bandwidth for Wireless Local Area Networks, which is wireless networking. Such networks have two main components, the access point or base station, and the network card to be installed in the computer. Once the network card is installed, computers even several meters away from the access point can access the internet. Wireless hotspots are public areas where mobile internet users can get connected to high-speed internet using WiFi technology. Ms. Borje said Meralco is willing to share the frequency provided there will be restrictions. "If we lift the ban, there will be restrictions like low-power usage. We will identify under what terms they could operate. Until the ban is lifted, [PLDT and Globe] should not roll out hotspots," she said. "We are not against the technology, we just want to make it right. Let's not disregard the rules. We hope this technology will lower the cost of internet access. We will look at the violations," she added. The official also said Airborne was never allowed to operate WiFi commercially. "Airbone has no permit," she said. In a separate interview, telecommunication official Jorge V. Sarmiento said PLDT and Globe even claimed that they were given permits to put up WiFi hotspots. He said these were mere test permits. He also said that if PLDT and Globe continue to put up WiFi hotspots in Metro Manila as well as in central and southern Luzon, the will no longer be given permits. WIZ or Wireless Internet Zone, under Globe's GlobeQUEST brand, is now available in Greenbelt 2 and 3 in Makati City, RCBC EAT Food Court, Greenhills Theatre mall, Pioneer Highlands Tower I, Cebu City Sports Club, Ayala Center Cebu, and University of Asia and the Pacific. In these establishments, customers can access the internet without cables and plugs or sockets. GlobeQUEST was also going to set up hotspots in The Legend Hotel, Fontana Leisure Park, Cebu Waterfront Hotel, Glorietta, Kaya Resturant in Rockwell and Jupiter St., Kelly Blue Cafe in Pampanga, and Mactan International Airport. Last May, ePLDT announced its merger with Airborne Access. ePLDT now operates its WiFi service called BliNK. Airborne targetted to put up 60 hotspots in 100 days. Both Airborne and ePLDT BliNK have a combined 21 hotspots throughout Metro Manila and at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Both companies have been putting up WiFi hotspots since early last year. -- Manolette P. 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