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NEWS

Free WiFi for Qatar's parks

ictQATAR press release, 5 October, in Arabic or English:

"ictQATAR, the Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Municipality and Agricultural Affairs (MOMAA) to establish Qatar's first Internet Park Initiative titled 'i-Parks'....

"In tune with ictQATAR's overarching goal of providing 'Broadband for All' and building a knowledge based society, 'i-Parks' aims to increase internet usage by creating 'hot spots' within public areas with free internet access...

"Three parks [in Doha] are initially selected to be internet enabled which are Albidda, Sheraton and Dahal Alhamam park. The three 'i-Parks' will be operational by the end of the year.

"According to Mohammed Al-Emadi, i-Parks Project Manager at ictQATAR, with the signing of the MoU, Qatar has become among the leading countries in the region to embark in such an undertaking. 'Internet parks are the wave of the future and Qatar will become a part of this global trend and provide internet access to all citizens,' said Al-Emadi.

"More than $700 million will be invested over the next three years to build public wireless broadband networks worldwide. There are currently 21 'i-Parks' in New York City alone.

"i-parks will provide the Ministry of Municipality with an opportunity to position Qatar's public attraction facilities as a regional model... The project will also encourage outdoors activities for leisure and businesses, entice local businesses to provide amenities to parks and access to its services via the parks portal... Along with providing full coverage of WiFi network, each 'ipark' will develop a website to promote its activities and showcase advertisers' products. To ensure 'i-Parks' sustainability, the Ministry of Municipality and ictQATAR will focus on attracting the private sector to take a leading role in advancing the goals of this project..."

[Municipal WiFi: 18 October 2006]