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IDM launches New public Internet WIFI and kiosks at Beirut International Airport
Press release for immediate publication
IDM launches New public Internet WIFI and kiosks at Beirut International Airport
- 17 kiosks will be available at BIA along with wireless HOT SPOT access -
Beirut, March 17th, 2004: IDM announced today that it has won the bid for the provision of Internet on exclusive basis at Beirut International Airport. The press conference took place on Wednesday March 17, 2004, in the Departure Hall at Beirut International Airport, in the presence of His Excellency Jean-Louis Cardahi, Minister of Telecommunications, Mr. Charbel Fakhoury, General Manager – Microsoft Eastern Mediterranean, Mr. Gilbert La Croix, President - Intel corporation Middle East & Africa, IDM management, Airport Management, TRIPLE C management, as well as local and regional press representatives.
Beirut Airport is among the first airports in the Middle-East and in the world to provide such a service. The service provides 15 kiosks with Internet access distributed throughout the different departure gates of the airport, 2 additional kiosks in the arrival area, and a HOT SPOT access that covers the departure and arrival hall as well as the VIP lounges.
Hot Spot or Wireless computing has made unprecedented deployment progress in recent years. Increasingly, wireless-enabled laptops have become the end-user computing platform of choice, particularly among people who travel frequently for work. Wireless computing and mobilization simplify the tasks and virtually create more hours in the day, which is especially important for the business and the leisure traveler. Airports are ideal hotspot locations: as travelers wait for their plane to depart, they find it convenient to be wirelessly connected to their company intranet or to the Internet. For travelers with laptops not equipped with the WIFI features, 17 Internet kiosks have been strategically located at the departure gates and in the arrival hall.
Zakie Karam, Sales Manager of IDM applauded this initiative and said: “This is a visionary initiative by the government and we are very happy to be chosen to perform this operation which requires expertise and follow-up. IDM has been providing Internet services to top corporations in Lebanon and we are well-known to be a reliable Internet & solution provider. IDM accepted the challenge and we are looking forward to serve the airport and to provide quality Internet for the coming 4 years.”
The launching of this new service comes in line with the government initiative to reposition Beirut International Airport on a global scale in terms of Internet facilities.
Mr. Abdo Bejjani, Managing Director of the Airport and Head of the Meteorology Department at BIA added: “The implementation of the Hot Spot solution and the public Internet kiosks is a major step for the national economy in which Beirut enters a new era of servicing standards, especially in the business sector, and joins, in its vision, the other main business capitals. We are excited to offer this new passenger service to both the traveling public and our airport tenants. We believe that this service further serves to distinguish Beirut International Airport as a leader in the customer service area.” Mr. Bejjani added: “Some time ago, we began looking at the different business models for providing Internet access throughout the airport and we felt that IDM offered the best solution to address not only the needs of the traveling public, but also the needs of our other important constituents such as airlines and concessionaires, among others.”
Charbel Fakhoury, General Manager – Microsoft Eastern Mediterranean said: “Microsoft has always been committed to the development of public services. We are pleased to contribute to this project that will surely enhance the implementation of more service oriented projects in Beirut International Airport. Microsoft technologies will enable the BIA’s administration to fulfill its vision of timely, efficient competitive services thus maintaining the highest standards Lebanon is reputed for.”
Bernard Rizk, President and CEO of TRIPLE C said: "Now with Intel’s CentrinoTM Mobile Technology, all passengers in Beirut International Airport can reach their destination before boarding using their Mobile devices like CentrinoTM Notebooks & Tablet PCs, WiFi PDAs … or the 17 kiosks distributed all over the Airport. Thanks to Intel strategy of empowering local channel partners in Lebanon to deliver technology solutions, and being an Intel Premier Provider, we have aligned our long expertise in the design and implementation of Integrated IT Systems based on wired, wireless local and wide area networks with Intel’s technology and support, in order to make Beirut International Airport the first Hotspot Airport in the Middle East using the latest WiFi 802.11b/g standard.
I would like also to thank IDM for their trust in TRIPLE C for the execution of the Hotspot Project."
This service will consist on buying Internet cards, available at the airport duty-free zone, at 5$ for 30 minutes of access and 10$ for 75 minutes of access. The Internet cards can be entered in the traveler’s personal laptop as well as in the computers available in any of the 17 kiosks implemented by IDM. The card is valid for 1 year. The traveler also has the possibility to pay by Credit Card through an online authorization, or to use a HOT SPOT Roaming account.
Qualified IDM staff will be in charge of the supervision of the project 24/7.
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