Mérida is solidifying its position as a city that promotes equal opportunities through access to technology and innovation, boasting 240 public spaces with free internet access, announced Mayor Cecilia Patrón Laviada.
The strategy aims to bridge the digital and social divide by bringing connectivity to parks, markets, bus stops, police stations, and community spaces. The city expects to have 280 free internet access points by the end of 2025.
“We want to ensure that no one is left without internet access, because when we provide connectivity, we provide opportunities for growth, education, and development,” the mayor stated.
Of the 240 active access points, 100 are located at public transportation stops, allowing students, workers, and other commuters to stay connected while waiting for their buses.
Additionally, 13 municipal markets already offer free internet access, including Chen-Bech, San Benito, Santiago, Santa Ana, Caucel, Cholul, and Mulsay. This initiative aims to strengthen the local economy and provide technological tools to businesses.
The mayor highlighted that 28 police stations now have internet access five times faster, increasing from 50 to 300 megabits per second, thanks to the installation of municipal fiber optic cable. This improvement primarily benefits young people who use the internet for studying, research, or training.
The service is available 24 hours a day in parks, police stations, markets, and municipal areas. The browsing speed per user is up to 10 megabits per second, ensuring a stable and equitable connection.
To guarantee the connection, some functions are restricted, such as P2P applications, cloud backups, online games, and file sharing. For user security, websites categorized as spam, phishing, adult content, and proxy websites are blocked.
Cecilia Patrón noted that the program has had a particularly strong impact in the southern part of the city, where parks such as Emiliano Zapata Sur I, Santa Rosa, Xoclán Xbech, El Faisán, and El Venado, as well as Ávila Camacho Park, now offer free internet access. Parks in the north and west have also benefited, including Bojórquez Park, the Ecological Park, El Bate Park, and the Anicabil Archaeological and Botanical Park.
The mayor announced that the first park with a coworking space and high-end internet connection will soon open in the Los Héroes neighborhood. It is designed to allow residents and entrepreneurs to conduct work or study there. “This is infrastructure, but it’s also social justice, because we are providing tools for growth,” she concluded.
Source: notirasa
