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One day far from now, the world will be draped in the comfort and luxury of ubiquitous Wi-Fi. Until then, enjoying free flowing Internet city by city will have to suffice.
According to reports, Seoul, South Korea, will be the next stop for the digital watering hole that is free public Wi-Fi.
Yonhap News Agency (h/t Forbes, Tech Insider) reports government officials are busily ensuring they meet their lofty goal, providing "free Wi-Fi networks at every public place by 2017."
This comes as tremendous news to locals but also travelers who would otherwise have to deal with their respective roaming charges as they attempt to enjoy the region with modern means.
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Now we all make do with expensive modes of Internet access, which is just how the global infrastructure is maintained at the moment.
But little by little, cities are embracing the concept of plentiful Internet access for the masses.
Just this past January we reported on the initial throes of New York City's LinkNYC, which is a set of repurposed pay phones that now pump out crucial Wi-Fi.
According to the report, Seoul's Wi-Fi reach will extend to buses and subways, which means you don't have to put on hold that social media heat until you get out into the open.
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When you have that clever tweet or powerful image of South Korean beauty, it must be posted immediately, obviously.
Now the venture will cost the city, handsomely. The report states the following: "Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said the metropolitan government plans to invest 460.5 billion won (US$373.9 million) over the next five years to grow the so-called 'diginomics' industry, a term combining the words digital and economics."
A big chunk of that monetary investment will go to the city's Internet of Things (loT) technology initiative.
Seoul continues to lead in innovation, which is welcomed by the millions who will enjoy its confines from 2017 and beyond.
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