St-Roch Park in Quebec City has become the first public area in the provincial capital to offer free wireless internet access.

L'Université du Quebec teamed up with the non-profit organization Zone Accès Public Québec to create the St-Roch "hot spot" this month.

The organization is working with hotels, cafés and libraries to expand free wireless access in the city. Users have to register with the organization through its websites to use the service.

"By putting these kind of access points everywhere in the city, we encourage people to meet each other, to share information and to access the World Wide Web," said spokesman Frederic De Celles.

University president Pierre Moreau's office looks out over the St-Roch park and the Place de L'Université du Quebec. The park is in the heart of the St-Roch neighbourhood. Though empty in winter, it's filled with students on sunny days, Moreau said.

Wireless access will attract tourists, while helping students and members of the business community, he said.

"All those people use laptops all the time, they can come to the park, sit down and work. So it's part of the quality of life that we're bringing to the St-Roch neighbourhood," he said.