Ever wondered if you could bask in the sun in Ratnapark, Kathmandu, with free WiFi internet? Well, it’s going to be a reality very soon as the Parks and Greenery Promotion Project under Kathmandu Metropolitan City has begun the installation of routers to beam signals for high-speed wireless connection at the popular venue in the nation’s capital. The connectivity allows thousands of visitors in the popular area to connect with their family and friends without spending a dime.
Table of contents
Ratnapark gets 500 Mbps free WiFi connection
KMC’s Parks and Greenery Promotion Project is installing 6 routers from Nepal Telecom at Ratnapark. It will provide 500 Mbps connection for free. Sureshkumar Shrestha, a technician at Shankhadhar Garden and Ranipokhari unit, says that the public who enter the park for sunbathing and pastime will soon be able to enjoy the high-speed internet on their devices. The great aspect of this public connectivity is that the WiFi coverage will be available throughout the park, so no dead zones.
The Ratnapark has a fee structure, and visitors need to pay a fee for entrance.
Also: WiFi Vs Cellular Data for Internet Connectivity; Which One to Prefer
Ratnapark entrance fees
Ratnapark entrance fees range from Rs 20 to Rs 1500. Students pay Rs 20 to enter Ratna Park. The fee is Rs 30 for the general public and Rs 100 for people from SAARC and foreign countries. People with personal cameras need to pay Rs 100 to enter, and those who want to shoot a song or music video are charged Rs 5,000. For a wedding photo shoot, the fare is Rs 500, and those who take professional photos are charged Rs 1,500. People who go to the famous park to display national costumes are charged Rs 100. KMC is currently earning an annual revenue of Rs 5 million to Rs 10 million from Ratna Park from the entrance fees.
| Song/music video shoot | Fee (Rs) |
| Student entrance | 20 |
| General public entrance | 30 |
| SAARC & foreign nationals entrance | 100 |
| Entrance with personal camera | 100 |
| Song / music video shoot | 5,000 |
| Wedding photo shoot | 500 |
| Professional photography | 1,500 |
| Cultural costume display | 100 |
But while the entrance takes a cost, the WiFi service is available for free, no matter how many devices you connect for what duration.
The free WiFi in Ratnapark aligns with the ongoing initiatives for different levels of governments to provide WiFi in public areas. Already, the government has launched free WiFi in different areas of Kathmandu. In the meantime, the national telecom company Nepal Telecom provides free WiFi at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) as well. So, more public areas are getting free connectivity.
Although a commonality in many countries abroad, it’s still a growing practice. Besides the government, top Nepali ISPs– WorldLink and Vianet provide free WiFi in some public spaces across the country.
When will Ratnapark get free WiFi internet?
Ratnapark gets free WiFi internet service by the end of Mangsir 2082. The 500 Mbps connection is a high-speed connection, so it will ensure a smooth and uninterrupted online experience.
Conclusion
It’s great that thousands of visitors to Ratnapark will now get free WiFi access. It helps them connect, post, and share online. Broadly, it also promotes the theme of digital inclusion and free connectivity. But there are challenges too. So, do read how to safely use free public WiFi hotspot. Although KMC and NTC will ensure that the service is free of any security vulnerability, it’s best to stay alert. We suggest you refrain from using banking apps and digital wallets on public WiFi networks at least.
Anyway, it’s a welcome development that Ratnapak gets free WiFi service for public use. We hope for more areas, as the current communication minister, Jagdish Kharel, has announced will get the connectivity soon.
