COMMUTERS can now enjoy free Wi-Fi connectivity at all 17 EDSA Busway Stations, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced on Tuesday, a move designed to modernize public transportation and support cashless fare payments.
Implemented in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), this initiative enables passengers to settle fares through digital wallets such as GCash without consuming their personal mobile data, while also staying connected with family, work, or school.
Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the new connectivity complements the cashless payment program launched in December, which uses QR codes and other electronic wallets as alternative modes of fare collection.
“This will complement our cashless payment system,” Lopez said. “It means when you arrive here, if you want to pay through GCash or other wallets, you do not need to use your own mobile data. You can save your data for other things.”
DICT Secretary Henry Rhoel Aguda emphasized the complementary roles of the two agencies: while the DOTr “moves people,” the DICT “moves data.”
He noted that the service aims to ensure seamless access to electronic payment providers and messaging apps for commuters.
To connect to the EDSA Busway free Wi-Fi, commuters only need to select the DICT Free Wi-Fi for All network in their device settings and agree to the terms and conditions.
The “Free Wi-Fi for All” service is operational at 17 stations, including Balintawak, SM North EDSA, Quezon Avenue, Santolan, Ortigas, Guadalupe, Ayala, and SM Mall of Asia.
The system is powered by mobile data backed up by Starlink satellites, and a transition to fiber-optic technology is expected by March 2026 for faster speeds.
