The Oxford Tube puts Wi-Fi into coach service

 

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By Simon Aughton

Posted on 23 Apr 2007 at 09:33

Passengers on the Oxford Tube coach service can now access the Internet while they travel between the university city and London.

Access will be provided via a combination of Moovera Networks' mobile Wi-Fi equipment and Vodafone UK's 3G broadband network to deliver access speeds of up to 1.4Mbps on the Stagecoach-owned buses.

During a three-month trial across the 25-vehicle fleet, over 7,000 passengers have used the free service more than 32,000 times with an average session duration of 41 minutes. Stagecoach claims the ability to access the Net for free on the 24/7 coach service has convinced a number of commuters switch from the railways and from rival coach operators.

'Many of our passengers on Oxford Tube are commuters and students, and we have had a huge amount of positive feedback about the Wi-Fi service,' said Brian Souter, chief executive of Stagecoach Group. 'It puts Stagecoach at the forefront of offering next-generation on-board services for coach customers and we are delighted it is helping win new passengers to Oxford Tube.'

Internet connectivity is provided by Moovera's Moovbox M Series, a small 'modem-router' device that plugs into the 3G network and creates a Wi- Fi network throughout a vehicle. It also provides a link for in-vehicle applications, such as CCTV for remote camera monitoring, and features built-in GPS tracking so that fleet operators know where their vehicles are at any time.

'The success of the Stagecoach Wi-Fi service clearly demonstrates the demand for high-speed Internet connectivity on public transport', said Jim Baker, CEO and founder of Moovera Networks. 'Providing free "always-on" broadband access on routes frequented by commuters, students and tourists is a significant way for bus, coach and train operators to distinguish their service from others and increase passenger footfall.'