GLENDEVON, St James – AT least 200 residents at a time can now benefit from free Wi-Fi via a $7.5-million hot spot introduced to their community via the Universal Service Fund (USF).

Among them are Sylvia Michael, her five-year-old grandson, and other relatives. Being able to access the free service, she said, will ease the burden on their pockets.

“We wish we could have it more so that we could have the Internet for every one of us. We have to pay so much money — $6,000 or $7,000 per month — and we are poor so we are glad for the free Wi-Fi,” Michael told the Jamaica Observer during a recent ceremony to mark the occasion.

The Government has been rolling out free, secured, Wi-Fi hotspots in popular public places and communities across the country in an effort to boost the number of Jamaicans with access. The USF, an agency of the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology, carries out installation at the selected locations.

During last Friday’s ceremony, principal of Glendevon Primary and Infant School Audrey Lee Peynado spoke of the value Wi-Fi service will bring to the community.

“It will bring out the excellence that we want to bring out in our children where they are able to connect with the rest of the world; they will not be left behind because of lack of Internet resources. They will be able to log on at different times, doing their assignments because there are times when children will tell you that there is no Internet at home,” said Lee Peynado who noted that parents and teachers will also benefit from the service.

While acknowledging that there can be downsides to Internet access, Member of Parliament for St James North Western, in which Glendevon falls, Dr Horace Chang focused on how the community will benefit.

“Where there is connectivity, there is a lot of benefit to the community. Besides learning, they are able to connect with their families overseas and the rest of the world. Sometimes it can be abused but, generally, it is a positive contribution,” he said.

According to Dr Chang, three Wi-Fi hotspots have been created within the community.

USF Chief Executive Officer Daniel Dawes gave an indication of the traffic the network can support.

“At any given time this facility can host nothing less than 200 persons simultaneously,” he said.