The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) aims to operate over 60,000 free WiFi sites by 2026—far ahead of its original target of 25,000 (projected to reach 60,000-70,000). As of May 2025, DICT manages 18,849 sites in 9,769 locations nationwide, connecting 11.2 million devices in hard-to-reach areas. In 2026, DICT will provide connectivity to over 12,000 health centers (to support telemedicine, health record storage, etc.); this year, it must fulfill President Marcos’ order to set up free WiFi in nearly 12,000 unconnected public schools. DICT uses a two-pronged approach to boost its free WiFi program: 1) Partner with Starlink for enterprise-grade service at retail prices; 2) Complete the National Fiber Backbone’s later phases ahead of schedule (launched Phase 2 & 3 in July, covering 1,800 km across Cagayan Valley, Southern Tagalog, Bicol, Visayas, Mindanao—building on Phase 1’s 1,200 km from Laoag to Quezon City). DICT said the Free Public Internet Access Program needs at least P3 billion in 2026 to sustain and expand.