Take your laptop for a ride—Free WiFi on Express bus route
October 10, 2007
Moncton – Codiac Transit, in partnership with the City of Moncton is pleased to offer free wireless Internet on it’s new Express bus route As part of a pilot project, all 4 buses on the Express Route are equipped with onboard broadband Internet. The buses will be marked with lime green WiFi signage. “ We are the first municipality in Canada to deploy public broadband Internet on public transit. ” exclaims the City of Moncton’s Director of Information Systems, Dan Babineau. “ After offering free wireless Internet in our downtown, wireless buses were the next logical step.
This kind of worldclass service really puts us on the map, and shows how progressive our City really is. WiFi buses are yet another example of the City of Moncton’s commitment to innovation in technology.” This innovative service, which utilizes a mobile Internet connection powered by Red Ball Internet of Moncton, will be offered for free and is available to anyone who has WiFi enabled technology. “These services reflect the change in demographic and the wide acceptance that technology now enjoys in people's every day lives.” says John Allain, General Manager of Codiac Transit. “Travelling on a bus can be productive time whether you are reading a newspaper, organizing your daily calendar or e-mailing friends.” In the long run the project could be more than a public mobile WiFi access point— it could be used for security purposes, as well as for GPS tracking of buses and other City fleet vehicles.
“Eventually, buses will be equipped with a GPS unit and we will map it on our website,” says Dan Babineau. “ In addition to showing people where their bus is in real-time, this will help Codiac Transit in monitoring bus activity electronically at their operations centre.” Babineau expects this service to be in place within the next few months.