SM management limits free WiFi access

Whenever, I’m at an SM Mall, I immediately connect to their free Wi-Fi service to keep my feeds updated all throughout my stay. But just recently when I was at the SM Mall of Asia, I noticed that the Wi-Fi connection on my Nexus 4 was automatically disconnected.

That’s when I saw a notification on my browser stating that I have reached the maximum free WiFi access for the day. After that, I tried connecting on my Nexus 7 – and only just then that I spotted the time limit – 1 hour.

This may come as a bad news to some mall goers, particularly those who just hang out at the mall to leech on the mall’s free internet access. On the other hand, this will benefit the majority of the people as it will result to faster internet connection.

Bob Freking

Bob Freking occasionally contributes articles to the website. He is a UST Graduate of Commerce & Business Administration, Major in Marketing Management, and a full-time Sith Lord with three dragons.

43 Comments

ariel says:

12 years ago

eh tama din naman yang ginagawa ng sm kasi ang daming mga pinoy mahilig sa libre, magpapalamig sa loob ng mall tas maki free wifi pa over di ba? tas if you look at them wala naman binili whole day yan magbabad sa mall …kaloka! kaya dapat yan gawin ng sm …
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bajigjig says:

12 years ago

Nakikiinom pa ng tubig sa food court
sadsadsd says:

12 years ago

@bajigjig: Buti kung inom lang. May mga iba na nakiki-inom na nga lang. Maglalabas pa ng PET bottle at mag-tatake home pa ng tubig (sabay kupit ng fork and spoon)!
Edwin C says:

12 years ago

Iyang mga taong mga libre lang ang hinahabol sa mall sila ang nagpapadami ng tao sa mall. Makikita mo naka-upo lang sa mga stairs, klarong-klaro na walang kapera-pera ang mga iyan. Ang tagal pang umuwi ng mga freeloaders na iyan. Palakad-lakad ang karamihan sa kanila at para bang naghahanap ng libreng mani.

Smokescreen says:

12 years ago

Hahaha! May capping na rin sa SM!
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Pol says:

12 years ago

Dati na yan Sir :) actually kahit network, IP jailed na rin iwas sniffers
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Reader says:

12 years ago

Well, duh, resources din naman kasi yan ng SM. Andaming abusado dyan eh. Yung tipong pupunta ng mall para lang maka-download ng files/movies/torrents nila, wala namang bibilhin. Ok lang sana kung pang-check ng social networking sites or email ang ginagawa. Ang jeje pa ng iba dyan. Nasisira tuloy ang “premier” image ng SM Aura, hahaha! XD
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Miss Call says:

12 years ago

I don’t see anything premier out of a flooded parking and dripping theater ceilings.
Verbl Kint says:

12 years ago

If they wanted to limit leechers, they could have easily just done proper administration to the network (throttling or closing ports) instead of limiting access to only 1 hour.

This is clearly an admission from SM that they cannot handle the load of thousands of people trying to surf the net or post to facebook/instagram/twitter/ at the same time.
Boo says:

12 years ago

@Miss Call: You need to improve your sarcasm-detecting skills.

Rouge says:

12 years ago

Get your own DATA plan is what they meant!
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ariel says:

12 years ago

exactly! kaso mo lang pag nasa loob ka ng mall hina ng 3G signal ng networks…kaya napipilitan ka maghanap ng hotspot and its good anjan ang coffee beans or krispy kreme that offers reliable connection yan ang problema ko sa 3G unli data plan ko sa smart …
booboo says:

12 years ago

@ariel

Actually malala kapag Smart user ka tapos nasa isang Ayala mall ka. Before ka pumasok naka LTE ka, when you’re inside it will drop to 3G tapos mabagal pa. Then when you get out balik LTE at mabilis na ulit. Haaay, Ayala and Globe. Why?
kiko says:

12 years ago

@booboo

Because ayala malls and globe are owned by the ayalas.
ariel says:

12 years ago

@booboo, tama ka parati ko experence pag pumapasok ako sa trinoma, parati nawawala ang 3G signal ko hayy pangit na nga malln ila at sobrang siksikan pa ng mga freeloaders kaya what i do takbo ako sa the block or sa shangrila at least don konti tao at malakas talaga 3G ko …

Dee says:

12 years ago

haha. yeah. nagulat din ako nung nagpunta ako sa Moa last Sunday. Hindi naman ako madalas maki-wifi kay SM dahil sa kabagalan din. :)Pero okay nadin to nang mabawasan tambay sa food court! :D
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Rick says:

12 years ago

wala rin naman kwenta ang wifi nila eh. I doubt that someone will go there just to download movies and such, 30 years bago sila matapos sa bagal ng net. Now they limit the connection to 1 hour.. oh well.. best bet is to have a mobile data connection nalang.
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Joy says:

12 years ago

Dapat lang naman e. One particular experience – nasa Starbucks ako, tried sitting in one customer na naghohog (no offense meant here) sa sitting area na nagiinternet using SM Wifi. Ayaw nya, meron daw syang kasama – ayaw lang nyang makishare ng seating area.

Makapal lang talaga e – taking advantage of the space na di bumibili nakikiwifi lang sa SM. Kawawa ang mga legit na bumibili ng pagkain or drinks.
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samuel witwicky says:

12 years ago

Well, I never could connect to their Wifi at SM Megamall. What’s the deal with that? Anyone else having that problem?
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Smokescreen says:

12 years ago

Sana if may nabili ka naman sa SM lets say worth at least P500, bibigyan ka ng password para magamit mo yun internet ng mga at least 3hrs. Then the more you shop, the longer hours of usage.
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