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Vancouver Trains and Buses to get Free WiFi - for Free
(23 Jan 2019, BWCS Staff)Metro Vancouver is set to become one of the first cities in the world to offer free WiFi connections to passengers on all modes of its transit services. Translink, Metro Vancouver’s transportation authority responsible for transporting travellers across 21 municipalities, said recently that it plans to launch the WiFi service in 2020, and that it will not cost tax-payers, or riders, a single cent.
The service will cover all the buses, SkyTrains and ferries (SeaBus) as they criss-cross the 1,800 square kilometres of Metro Vancouver. SkyTrain alone has a daily ridership of some 490,000 people on its three lines - despite its name, 6km of SkyTrain’s 80km of track runs underground.
According to TransLink Project Manager, Sarah Perrault “Delivering this ambitious project will be challenging with over 2000 moving vehicles on land, sea and rail and 100,000 simultaneous users at any given moment. Despite the engineering complexity, we are committed to providing a seamless WiFi experience for our customers.”
Under the terms of the deal struck with Shaw Communications Inc. (“Shaw”), the addition of WiFi on board will come at no added cost to Translink or its customers, and Shaw will install and operate the WiFi system. WiFi has been available since 2016 at SeaBus terminals and on SeaBus ferries through a similar agreement with Shaw.
Charles Froehlich, Senior Manager, Commercial Real Estate at Translink, adds, “delivering WiFi on a long term, financially positive business model was key for us. On top of providing a fantastic amenity for our customers, this collaboration with Shaw will enable new commercial opportunities previously unavailable to TransLink and enhance accessibility for many of our customers with disabilities.”
“Transit and transportation is about connecting communities” added Guy Akester, Director, Real Estate Programs and Partnerships at TransLink “and our customers told us that WiFi was a key part of that connectivity and something they really wanted. This deal took many years to put together but we wanted to get it right and I believe we have. Now we have to build it.”
Shaw will work with the transport operator throughout next year to trial the system. It is expected that roll-out will begin in a little over twelve months’ time – in early 2020. Translink says that SkyTrain passengers and bus riders will be the first to benefit. However, the entire network may take up to 2025 to complete.
BWCS is constantly monitoring developments in the WiFi on Trains sector within each national market. For more information about how to access our international database of interviews and market developments, please contact Ross.Parsons@BWCS.com
On-board WiFi, trackside networks, the growing market for passenger WiFi services and on-board entertainment will be the main subjects of BWCS’s WiFi on Trains Conference 2019 on the 4th and 5th of June.
For more information on the conference please see www.Traincomms2019.com or contact Ross.Parsons@BWCS.com .
The 2019 conference (www.Traincomms2019.com ) is sponsored by Icomera, Nomad Digital, Fluidmesh, RADWIN and BAI Communications.
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