Adelaide commuters will have access to free Wi-Fi on metro trams and 20 buses as part of a year-long trial. While the first bus with Wi-Fi is now in service the full trial won’t begin until January.
Transport Services Minister Chloe Fox told ABC.
“Many people now are constantly on their smart phones, they’re constantly on the iPad, if they do use this system it allows people more time for work and indeed for leisure on the buses themselves,”
The free Wi-Fi service is sponsored by advertisers on the Adelaide Metro fleet and APN, the company that has been contracted by the Government to sell and manage the advertising. The same technology has been applied on Yarra Trams for almost two years and on a similar trial on Brisbane buses.
Test have shown download speeds on the 3G Dual WAN modem, at 1.7 megabits per second, though download speeds may vary depending on the location and the amount of people using the network at any given time.
The public are asked to provide feedback on the reliability of the Wi-Fi service on a special 24 hour free enquiries and complaints help number: 1300 554 017.
If the trial is successful it will be expanded to all Adelaide buses and trains.
Source: ABC. See also the Adelaide Metro website for more information.
Photo by State Library of South Australia CC By