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The following is issued on behalf of the Housing Authority:
Public rental housing (PRH) tenants will be able to enjoy free access of the Internet through Wireless Fidelity (Wi Fi) service from tomorrow (January 22) at designated spots of the communal areas in about 120 PRH estates of the Housing Authority.
In line with the Government's initiatives to provide free Wi Fi service to the public in government premises, the authority's Building Committee, in December last year, approved the provision of free Wi Fi service in PRH estates.
"The Housing Authority facilitates the provision of free Wi Fi service by information and communication technology service vendors and will provide the basic communal facilities such as power supply, cable ducts and conduits," a spokesman for the authority said.
Interested service vendors would install and operate the systems at their own costs, he said.
Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited (HKBN) has set up about 1,000 access points in around 120 PRH estates. PRH tenants will receive a unique user ID and log-in information within the next couple of days to enable them to use the service at the ground floor lift lobbies and the adjoining outdoor areas from 6am to 11pm daily.
All the hotspots are denoted by clear labels. PRH tenants can call the HKBN's telephone hotline (128 100) direct for enquiries about the service.
The spokesman said that the authority maintained an open policy and would welcome any interested service vendors to offer similar free services to its tenants.
"We are in parallel exploring with other service vendors to identify more locations to increase the number of Wi Fi hotspots and the feasibility of extending the coverage."
Ends/Monday, January 21, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:41
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