Seoul to install 10,000 free wireless Internet

Seoul will install free wireless Internet in more than 10,000 locations across the city, giving citizens better access to the Web from portable devices, the municipal government said Wednesday. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, some 10,430 outdoor public spaces will be fitted with wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) networks by 2015, covering 13.5 percent of the capital's total area. The city government will work with the country's three telecom companies to install the networks in parks and major traffic points, such as crossroads and commercial streets. It will also focus on expanding the free service in tourist hubs, including the fashion district of Myeongdong and the foreign quarters of Itaewon. Once in place, the networks will also be used to expand emergency phone services and other public safety measures against emergencies and crime, the Seoul government said.