Manila, March 10 -- The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is set to overhaul the Free Wi-Fi Program, citing high costs and inefficiencies in the current setup.

DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy on Monday said the program requires reevaluation and restructuring for a more cost-effective approach.

The government has an annual budget of PHP6.5 billion to cover internet access in over 7,000 locations.

"There are more cost-effective alternatives if we enter into long-term agreements," Dy said in a press release.

"For instance, we are in discussions with a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) provider for a potential discount to enhance connectivity in schools. The provider has offered an aggregated 200Mbps (MIR) of internet ...