Outside and online: capital to offer free internet in parks

Abu Dhabi, Oct 15, 2008 (WAM) - Free wireless internet service is to begin soon in some of the capital’s parks to encourage more people to use public spaces according to a report in “The National.”

The project is being undertaken in collaboration with etisalat, the telecoms provider, said Abdul Aziz al Juraishi, the Abu Dhabi director of parks and recreation facilities. The service is expected to begin within two months in locations such as Heritage Park and Formal Park along Corniche Road, and in the nearby residential areas.

“We’ve done a study to find out the best place to start this wireless internet, and hopefully it would be on Corniche Road, where there are three open parks,” Juraishi said. “We will see about extending to all parks if the first phase succeeds.”

It is not known how large an area would be covered at first Juraishi said the idea came from an engineer in his department. “We got convinced that this is a good idea,” he said.
“If I’m bored in my apartment and I want to use the internet, it will encourage [me] to use the open areas. Especially in the wintertime, the air is nice and you can sit outside with your children,” Juraishi said.

Hundreds of cities around the world have municipal wireless networks, offering internet service free or for less than service providers charge.

Public parks in cities such as Paris, New York, Hong Kong and Toronto all have free wireless internet access.

The idea is also not new to the Gulf region. Qatar announced its i-Parks initiative two years ago and provided free service in three parks.

Through “mesh” networking – a way to relay data using a series of radio transmitters – a blanket of radio signals is created throughout the city. Signals may travel from one router to another, with the routers mounted on light poles, for example.

People can bring their laptops to spaces within reach of the signal, and once the computer detects the network, they can sign on.