OREANDA-NEWS. Since seven out of ten local residents indicate a wish to use free internet at public transport stops, upon two year celebration of free WiFi facilities in the whole territory of Latvia, Lattelecom has equipped several public transport stops in Riga with open-access internet and opened this event with a special gymnastic programme.

Referring to the growing interest of local residents in healthy lifestyle and simultaneously expressed concerns regarding lack of time Lattelecom in cooperation with the doctor of sport science, certified physiotherapist and head of the fitness studio Vingrosev.lv Ieva Kundzi?a have developed a special programme of exercises. This programme can be practised in everyday situations, even when standing at a public transport stop or in a queue, surfing on the internet, drinking coffee, and avoiding unnecessary attention of bystanders. The other part of exercises is intended for respite after continuous periods of sitting.

Gusts Muzikants, Director of Lattelecom Private customers department explains: “Majority (70%) of the residents of Latvia freely admits in the survey that the time spent at the public transport stops is not being used in a useful manner, while 10% of the respondents surf on the internet, but a few use to attend the nearby shop. With the new stop concept including free WiFi Lattelecom calls the people to think of the way they spend their free time. After all, the time spent on the internet can be combined with practising healthy lifestyle.”

After conduction of an activity at a public transport stop called “T?rbatas iela” Ieva Kundzi?a stressed: “During my work on the doctor’s thesis about hormone of happiness (beta endorphin) I came to conclusion that physical activities increase the level of beta endorphin in blood and cause joy. This initiative is a good beginning for thinking about more valuable use of the free moments, because your body will be influenced positively by regular physical activity, even if these are just a couple of minutes per day. With physical activities we improve not only our physical, but also mental health and feeling of comfort thus reducing negative emotions, for example, aggression, anger and disgust that we frequently use to unload on other people.”

Lattelecom has established over 4500 Lattelecom-free WiFi points in the whole territory of Latvia since 2013 thus allowing Riga to become the European capital of WiFi. At the moment Lattelecom-free WiFi is available at 21 hospitals, 165 educational establishments, as well as in squares, parks and other open-air venues of the largest cities of Latvia. In turn as of the April WiFi has been established at seven public transport stops – “T?rbatas iela”, “In?enieru iela”, “Esplan?de”, “Ezermalas iela”, “Nacion?lais te?tris”, “Medic?nas muzejs” and “?ertr?des iela”.