Japan Planning 30,000 Wi-Fi Access Points

Above, cultural heritage sites such as Sensoji will be a Wi-Fi access point. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan is planning to provide 30,000 Wi-Fi nationwide access spots in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The Japan Times reported:

The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry announced on Monday a finalized plan to establish 30,000 Wi-Fi access points nationwide in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. 

The ministry had said in 2015 that its major objective is to provide connectivity to victims of potential disasters and to tourists. It planned to install Wi-Fi in public facilities such as schools, government buildings, museums and cultural heritage sites, including historical ruins. 

“A total of 14,000 facilities are done, and there are 16,000 more” still to be equipped with Wi-Fi networks, said Go Katsuhata, a ministry official in charge of local internet access. 

All except those in some locations, such as schools, will be free to use by the general public.

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