Taiwan's Executive Yuan, in view of fast growing use of mobile access to the Internet based on smartphones and tablet PCs, has decided to have subordinate units set up a Wi-Fi network of 2,500 hot spots around Taiwan to provide free wireless access to the Internet on a trial basis for six months beginning October 10, according to government sources.

The hot spots will be mainly located at airports, sea ports, railway stations, mass rapid transit stations, public libraries, recreational facilities and scenic places, the sources indicated. The free wireless Internet-access service will have a limited download speed to 512Kbps and not allow access to audio/video websites, the sources pointed out.

Since many units under the Executive Yuan have sought cooperation with Chunghwa Telecom (CHT) for establishing hot spots, CHT has been commissioned to set up 2,165 hot spots in total, accounting for 86.6% of the total number.