President Rodrigo Duterte has directed the Department of Communications and Technology to develop a National Broadband Plan to accelerate the deployment of fiber optic cables during his first State Of The Nation address today.

Duterte: Newly-created DICT to develop a National Broadband Plan to accelerate the deployment of fiber optic cables.

— Official Gazette PH (@govph) July 25, 2016

He also added that WiFi access to be given in selected public places, which include parks, public hospitals, plazas, seaports, airports and train stations.

Earlier the administration inked a deal with Smart and PLDT to provide high-speed, free WiFi (at no cost to the government) to major transportation hubs around the country.

Previous attempts for a national broadband plan ended in disaster, when then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cancelled the National Broadand Project between the government and Chinese telecommunications firm ZTE after a barrage of controversy and accusations of corruption in the deal.