Penang’s Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today launched “Penang Free WiFi”. It is the first component of the state’s Wireless@Penang project, which aims to give Penangites free wireless broadband services statewide. The project is scheduled to complete within the next 18 to 24 months.

The initiative is supposedly 100% private sector driven with no, or minimal cost, to the state government. The 10 Mbps service will be rolled out at several core-market areas first before gradually expanding to the entire state.

Currently, free WiFi is already available at Komtar’s concourse level and the 28th floor. New access points will be set up in Queensbay Mall soon and the service should be available within the next four weeks. This will be followed by areas located at Macalister Road, Burma Road, Gurney Plaza and Gurney Drive, Bukit Jambul Complex, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Butterworth and then Tanjung Bungah. Hop on over to TheStar for the full report.