Students in Remote Areas Get Free Internet Access

Telecommunications giant Smart Communications Inc. has joined the government's free SIM (subscriber identity module) initiative by providing subsidized internet services to students in Zambales.

- — Elijah Felice Rosales

Smart yesterday said it is helping in the government program called Bayanihan SIM, wherein telcos give students free SIM cards, which they can use for their studies.

The SIM cards come with a data package of 25GB per month, good for one year.

The cost of the internet connection is subsidized by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

Smart chief operating officer Anastacio Martirez said the company has started distributing free SIM cards in Masinloc, Zambales, particularly to students of the Bani National High School Coto Annex, Coto Elementary School and Mandaloy Elementary School.