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On the Buses …
(16 Nov 2016, BWCS Staff)Better known for its on-train WiFi services, UK/Swedish technology company Icomera has signed a deal to supply 4G WiFi to National Express coaches across Britain. At the same time, long-term collaborator, GoMedia, will supply Infotainment content to the same bus passengers. This will include films, catch-up TV, games and more.
National Express said that the WiFi and entertainment services will be available on some coaches later this month, with full roll-out to all 622 buses expected to be complete by the summer of next year. The transport company said that the new VUER (View, Unwind, Enjoy, Relax) service will be available for free to its passengers.
For its part, Icomera said that it will utilise its new M4X kit on the buses. This eliminates the need for additional on-board hardware such as a dedicated media server. Regular media content updates will be pushed to National Express’ coaches remotely over-the-air and stored locally on the M4X hardware. This means that passengers will stream fresh media content directly from the vehicle, instead of over the Internet, freeing up the WiFi bandwidth for e-mailers, social media users and general browsers. In addition, it should also lower the bus company’s cellular connectivity costs.
WiFi is becoming increasingly common on buses in the UK and indeed around the world, mainly on long-distance routes. However, many airport shuttle services have also introduced on-board connectivity such as First Group in Scotland which recently contacted Icomera to provide free WiFi on its new Glasgow City Centre to Airport Shuttle service.
It was also announced last week, that the new fleet of 22 buses to take commuters from city-edge car-parks into Cambridge city centre will all be equipped with free WiFi. Not to be left out, Stagecoach in Manchester has recently revealed that its new fleet of 53 buses will also arrive equipped and ready to go with WiFi on-board.
The spread of WiFi on trains around the world as well as the development of new on-board wirelessly-supplied services will be the main focuses of next year’s WiFi on Trains Conference - Train Communications Systems 2017. For information on sponsor and speaking opportunities at the 2017 event e-mail Ross.Parsons@BWCS.com or visit www.Traincomms2017.com .
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