Two more parks to offer wireless internet in Qatar

Manama: Free wireless internet will be available in two more parks in Doha after the Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology (ictQATAR) extended its iParks initiative to Al Wakrah Public Park and Corniche Al Khor.

The internet service in the three existing parks - Rumaillah, Sheraton and Dahl Al Haman - was also upgraded.

All five parks now offer connection speeds of eight megabits per second (mbps), an increase from the four mbps previously available, ictQATAR said.

"Free internet in some of Doha's most frequented parks has proven extremely popular for both people trying to balance work and leisure time, as well as people without home Internet connections," ictQATAR said.

In addition to the service upgrades, the security of the iParks' wireless connection has been enhanced with a new authentication process. Users of iParks are now provided with a secure PIN code via a free SMS upon registering for the service, Qatari daily Gulf Times reported on Tuesday.

The registration and authentication process is detailed on the iParks welcome page and on signs in each park, both of which are available in English and Arabic.

The webpage automatically appears when a user is connected to the network in one of the parks, and includes security tips for users and other useful links and resources. Additionally, a dedicated hotline for technical assistance has been created through the ‘Government Call Centre'.

According to the daily, 10,000 individuals on average take advantage of the free wireless Internet available in Qatar's iParks every month.

The iParks Initiative has seen a steady increase in users since its launch in 2007. ictQATAR said it planned to continue the expansion of the iParks initiative to additional parks and public spaces over the next five years, with the goal of two new public spaces connected each year.

In Beirut, Lebanese daily Daily Star said that Lebanon saw the opening of its first free-of-charge Wi-Fi space in the Sioufi Garden on Monday, with former Telecommunications Minster Charbel Nahhas hailing the project as the first of many more to come.