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The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Ministry says it will introduce free public WiFi at 20,000 locations around Greater Bangkok starting tomorrow.

An additional 20,000 WiFi hotspots are expected by October next year, said ICT Minister Anudith Nakornthap.

The 40,000 WiFi hotspots, under ICT’s fiscal budget for 2012, will have an average speed of 2 Mbps.

Coverage is planned for city halls in 77 provinces, 878 district offices, 2,010 municipalities, 7,355 tambons, 5,765 tambon administration organisations, 12,355 schools, 1,278 hospitals and 8,269 police stations, he said.

The 30-billion-baht scheme, part of the ministry’s Smart Thailand project, will be implemented under a four-year period starting from 2012.

The project aims to expand high-speed broadband internet, both wired and wireless, to cover 80% of districts nationwide, narrowing the digital divide and lifting the country’s telecom infrastructure.

Included in the plan is TOT’s 3G wireless broadband network expansion and long-term evolution (4G) network development.

Gp Capt Anudith acknowledged he was the minister the public knew the least about, according to a Suan Dusit poll, but added it wouldn’t affect his intention to continue working hard.

He is worried about the weakening of the country’s ICT competency, dropping to 50 this year from 49 last year, a recent report showed.

The government is preparing to introduce its Government Information Network next Thursday in a bid to allow state authorities to provide one-stop services. Under the project, the ICT Ministry is the network installer for state agencies who were unable to invest in network by themselves.

Gp Capt Anudith said the ministry plans to set up a joint committee to oversee network investment projects for TOT and CAT Telecom to reduce duplicate investment.

TOT is set to become a network service provider offering WiFi, 3G wireless broadband and fixed-based broadband.

CAT Telecom will become an integrated ICT service operator providing electronic transactions and network security.

為擴大大陸遊客赴台自由行的經濟效益，大陸方面已向我方提出七個新增試點城市，兩岸臺旅會與海旅會將進行協商。據報導，我方同意至少先行新增天津、南京和廣州三城市，未來將視辦理情形再調整；至於自由行每天500人的上限，不在調整範圍。

據了解，大陸所提出新增的七個試點城市，包括南京、杭州、天津、重慶、廣州、濟南和成都。我方針對這七個城市，參酌過去這些城市來台團隊遊的記錄，在經濟效益和安全管理雙重考慮下，排列出新增試點的優先次序，再交小兩會完成最後磋商。

據了解，這份優先次序清單近日已敲定，前三名是天津、南京和廣州，其次依序為杭州、成都、重慶和濟南。

消息透露，亚洲航空旗下廉价长程航空公司亚洲航空X （AirAsia X，简称亚航X）有意退出巴黎、伦敦、孟买和新德里航线。

根据《商业时报》今日报导，鉴于上述航线一直亏损，亚航X已向交通部申请停飞，最快可在2012年2月落实。

另一方面，大马局内人网站（The Malaysian Insider）也指出，亚航X伦敦航线每年亏损2000万令吉。

消息说，除了亏损因素，欧洲明年开始对航空业执行排放权交易制度（ETS），以及印度5限制与机场税调高，都是导致上述航线被放弃的因素。

对于上述传闻，亚航X总执行长阿兹兰奥斯曼既不置可否。

他通过电邮回应说：“我们对于亚航X的航线没有任何重大决策，无论是增加新航线或取消现有航线。更重要的是，没有任何来自交通部的批准事项。”