dtac launches free WiFi

This month dtac launched “dtac Free Wifi,” the company’s pilot project to support the Thai government’s “ICT Free Wifi” and “One Tablet Per Child” projects, initiated by the Information and Communication Technology Ministry.

Thai Internet project

The Wat Namdang School in the Bangplee District – Samut Prakarn province – is the first school selected to participate in this pilot project. The “dtac Free Wifi” service covers the entire school area, in particular four classrooms comprising 140 Grade I students. These students are recipients of the free tablets given by the government in accordance with the ICT’s free tablet policy. As many as 150 students at the school can use dtac Free WiFi at any given time.

Dtac CEO supports initiative

“dtac is pleased to be a helping hand in contributing to educational development of Thai youths in accordance with the government’s national development policies in the ICT area,’’ said Jon Eddy Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer of Total Access Communication (dtac). “We are also delighted to support the state’s urgent project to provide tablets to Grade I students at state schools nationwide.’’ Enabling youth

“This is a great example of a ICL project in which we enable youth by extending the benefits of mobile communications,” said Mai Oldgard, head of corporate responsibility. “We aim to create shared value for society, and this initiative involves taking a core telecoms service and using it to support educational development in Thailand. This is just the first step of what dtac has planned, and we expect to see even more connected youth in Thailand in the future.”

The steps are in line with dtac’s policy to maximize the use of integrated technology in order to contribute to social development, education and quality of life for young people, “so that they are prepared for a world dominated by digital communication,’’ said CEO Abdullah. Besides educational institutions, dtac also plans to offer the Free Wifi service to state offices that provide healthcare and illness prevention services such as state hospitals. “We aim to implement this new initiative in 2013,’’ he added.

About the pilot

Wat Namdang School operates classes for students from kindergarten level to Grade VI level. It currently has 143 Grade I students who have already received free tablets from the government. The teaching faculty at the school will help ensure that its students will use the free Wifi and tablets to create new learning opportunities. It will also elevate quality of education provision and prepare the students for lifelong learning experiences.

Wat Namdang School is reputed for its capacity to effectively provide education for typical children and children with special needs. In 2009, it won the evidence-based award as one of the best well-managed schools.

ICT Minister Anudit Nakorntap presided over the launch of the dtac Free Wifi project. Dtac CEO Abdullah and Mrs. Peangpen Suraraksa, principal of Wat Namdang School, were among those representing dtac and the school in welcoming the ICT minister.