A hotspot capital

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin, fourth left, and True managing director Thiti Nantapatsiri, fifth left, show free Wi-Fi cards at the official launch of the service yesterday.

As part of its agenda to make Bangkok a green city, the Bangkok Metro-politan Administration (BMA) and True Corpora-tion are offering free Inter-net access at 15,000 Wi-Fi hotspots for a year.

However, the access speed will only be 64 kilobits per second - enough to check e-mail and instant messaging.

Yesterday, after the official launch at CentralWorld, some 500,000 Wi-Fi cards were given away for free at tourist centres and leading department stores, including Siam Paragon, Emporium, Central Plaza and Siam Centre.

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin says the campaign is part of the Bangkok Green Agenda, initiated by BMA to create a knowledge-based society and offer residents a convenient and safe environment by introducing wireless Internet access as a substitute to travel whenever possible.

Green initiative

It is through this that BMA hopes to save energy, reduce expenses and meet the demands of the more environmentally friendly young generation.

The new Wi-Fi hotspots are located in 10 major areas, namely Silom; Rama IV; Rachaprarob Road; Rama I; Sukhumvit; New Phetcha-buri; Asoke; Charoenkrung and Rachadamnern Nok; as well as the Lumpini and Benjasiri Parks.

Those interested can register for access privileges at www.truewifi.net, while those with the free Wi-Fi card can register at the website and renew their account every three months.

The card is valid until the end of June next year.

More members expected

Non Ingkutanon, True's deputy director for broadband service, expects all recipients of the free Wi-Fi cards to log on during the first year. He also expects the current 50,000 Wi-Fi subscribers to treble by the end of this year.

Currently, True charges Bt150 per hour for walk-in customers at hotspots, while subscribers to the True Move mobile-phone service pay Bt250 per month for unlimited access.