Tasmanian Buses Get WiFi ...

WiFi on public transport has now reached as far as Tasmania. Following recent news that trains to Norwich in England are to be fitted out with WiFi, it seems there are few corners of the world were the service is not at least being trialed, if not introduced commercially. The recent announcement in Tasmania will see an AU$300,000 pilot scheme launched on buses in the state's second city Launceston.

The trial is due to last 18 months and follows public access WiFi on transport tests in other parts of Australia. South Australia launched an i-Commute project last August and in April 2009, the Queensland government announced plans to put WiFi on trains up on the Gold Coast.

The Tasmanian initiative is being backed by the Green Party who said that state funds will cover the costs of implementation on Launceston buses. Should the trials be extended beyond this, however, it stressed that public-private finance partnerships would be sought. The Greens have already expressed a willingness to extend the trial to include trains in Tasmania and onto school buses.

Train operators from around the world will be discussing how to benefit from trackside wireless communications networks at this year's Train Communications Systems Conference hosted by BWCS in June in central London. For further information please contact Ross Parsons (Ross.Parsons@BWCS.com ).