10:45 | 11.06.15 | Articles | exclusive 93034

Free Wi-Fi in public places

Armenia is among those few countries where people can get connected to free Wi-Fi at almost every step. Itel.am has tried to find out where in Yerevan and outside of it telecommunication operators in Armenia offer free Wi-Fi. We sent an inquiry to five operators and below are the answers of three operators. Beeline and VivaCell-MTS did not provide information on this.

Orange Armenia

Wi-Fi corners have been available in the territory of a number of universities since 2011. Also, in the same year the company installed Wi-Fi devices in certain crowded stops in Yerevan center – people can connect to the network without any passwords.

Around 100 buses in Yerevan have been enjoying Orange Wi-Fi network since 2011. The company noted they are presently negotiating with Yerevan Municipality in order to upgrade the Wi-Fi devices installed in buses or to replace them with modems of other models, if necessary.

Orange provides free Wi-Fi network in the following places outside of Yerevan:

- Since 2011, Orange Wi-Fi corners have been available in the regional branches of universities, particularly, in Goris, Gavar, Gyumri, Kapan, Ijevan, Yeghegnadzor and Vanadzor.

- Since 2010, Orange has been equipping the computer centers of rural communities in Armenia arming them with computers, Internet modems and relevant furniture and all this, free of charge. The community residents take advantage of the computer rooms free of charge or at quite a symbolic amount, which is usually set by the community to cover the center’s minimum costs.

Ucom

Ucom provides free Wi-Fi in the following public spaces in Yerevan – Khnko Aper Children's Library, National Library, Fundamental Library of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA), Music Library, Central Library after Avetik Isahakyan, Yerevan Mall, Lovers’ Park, Northern Avenue, Freedom Square and Jazzve café chain.

Ucom provides free Wi-Fi in the following places outside of Yerevan: in the entire territory of Tsakhkadzor, and Yeghegnadzor and Armavir central parks.

The company is going to offer free Wi-Fi in Etchmiadzin and Kapan in the near future.

Rostelecom

Rostelecom provides free Wi-Fi in the following places in Yerevan: Mashtots Park, Tumo Park, around Republican Medical Center, Sasuntsi Davit Square and Garegin Nzhdeh Square.

Since 2013, the company has been offering free Wi-Fi in Dalma Garden Mall, Davtashen Park, Northern Avenue, English Park, and Park of Mergelyan Institute of Mathematical Machines, and since 2014 – around the Republic Square.

The company also provides free Wi-Fi in Abovyan city – around the church and area adjacent to GNC-Alfa headquarters.

A number of places in Kapan and Jermuk cities as well as Dilijan Municipality Park enjoy free Rostelecom Wi-Fi.

The company said they will soon provide free Wi-Fi on Tigran Mets (Tigran the Great) Street in Vanadzor and Davit Bek Street in Kapan.

Narine Daneghyan