Cybercafes in Doha might become things of the past

There was a time when cybercafes were the hippest places to hang out. However, things have begun to change now and cybercafes in Doha are seeing dark days due to the introduction of the more advanced smartphones and tablets in the market.

Many internet cafes have been shut down and the surviving ones are undergoing bleak times. In addition to all this, customers have not only turned towards the trendiest devices in the market but also have begun to flock to coffee shops throughout the country that provide free wi-fi.

To cap it all, telecom service providers offer competitive Internet plans and data promotions, which have exacerbated the situation, leaving Internet cafes in a challenging situation — how to drive the business before the business drives them out, adds The Peninsula.

“Only low-income workers in small numbers now visit our café, mostly to use Skype and Facebook applications to communicate with their near and dear ones back home,” said an employee of a cybercafé near Sana Intersection in Old Ghanim to The Peninsula.

“It might be more expensive for them to buy a smartphone and mobile data than go to an Internet café to talk to their families and friends. Our services are cheaper. We charge only QR5 for an hour. Customers can opt for half-hour for QR3. If they use the service for up to 45 minutes, they will have to pay QR4,” he added.

“We now provide additional services. We have installed coloured and black and white printers and photocopying machines, so people come here to print their documents,” said the employee.

The shop charges QR2 a coloured copy and QR1 a black and white one. “We also provide typing services for filling up official forms and preparing letters but demand for such services is low.” But he sounded hopeful. “Our cafe has been serving customers since 2004. We have some loyal customers. And we are open 20 hours from 7am to 3am.”

A survey by The Peninsula found that most owners of Internet cafés either closed down permanently as the number of patrons dropped or opened new businesses.

A decade-old cybercafé in Bin Mahmoud opposite Gulf Paradise Hotel is being renovated into a commercial shop. Another one on the same street has begun serving shisha.

A year ago, an old Internet café at Town Centre in Freej Bin Omran opposite Al Ahli Hospital was turned into a computer and mobile phone repairs shop which also sells accessories.

“People come and ask why we shut down the cybercafé. We ask them when the last time they visited an Internet café was. Most of them cannot remember. The answer is simple — there is no need for them to go to Internet cafes. They have smartphones and tablets,” said the technician at the computer shop.