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WiFi-equipped buses hit Dhaka streets
Newly introduced public buses enable commuters to get free, on-board internet service.
By Kamran R. Chowdhury for Khabar South Asia in Dhaka
May 22, 2014
Dhaka bus operator Mohammad Selim no longer needs to work as hard to solicit passengers. In fact, he has witnessed a "magical change" in their attitudes toward longer commutes.
Passengers in Dhaka can now ride WiFi-equipped buses that promise uninterrupted internet service at traveling speeds of up to 60kph.
"I had to scream for at least 30 minutes to gather 50 passengers, but now I do not need to shout for long," Selim told Khabar South Asia. "Passengers – especially the younger ones – prefer our buses to private minibuses or auto rickshaws, even though our vehicles take longer."
The reason: buses equipped with free WiFi recently launched by state-owned Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC), as part of a move to advance the government's Digital Bangladesh programme.
Stockbroker Muktar Hossain said the "innovative" service is useful for his work. He spends Tk. 300 ($4) to travel from Uttara to his Motijheel brokerage house, where he must arrive before trading begins at 10.30am.
"Now, I can follow the (Dhaka Stock Exchange) website using the WiFi service on the bus and make buy-sell orders online from my mobile phone without any additional cost," Hossain told Khabar.
Previously, he had to spend extra money for net browsing on his smart phone. The free internet service lessens the anxiety about reaching the brokerage house before the markets open.
Better tracking, better service
The BRTC has also installed vehicle-tracking equipment to detect the real-time location of its buses. The first phase of the project involved 20 double-decker and articulated WiFi buses plying Dhaka's Uttara-Motijheel route.
"We have 600 buses for city service. Gradually, we will expand the service to other routes," BRTC Chairman Jasimuddin Ahmed told Khabar, adding passenger response was "greater than expected".
"Besides advancing the government's Digital Bangladesh initiative, the move will also make our buses attractive to commuters who want to stay connected while commuting."
Officials say passengers with WiFi-enabled laptops, netbooks, tablets and smartphones can get uninterrupted internet service even while travelling 60kph. Ahmed said BRTC would assign young IT students as volunteers to offer technical support on the buses.
Tejgaon College student and rider Imran Ahmed said the WiFi service was good for logging onto Facebook and other online portals.
"Passengers of the other routes should also get the service. Then the private bus operators would be forced to introduce similar services for us," he said.
Newly introduced public buses enable commuters to get free, on-board internet service.
By Kamran R. Chowdhury for Khabar South Asia in Dhaka
May 22, 2014
Dhaka bus operator Mohammad Selim no longer needs to work as hard to solicit passengers. In fact, he has witnessed a "magical change" in their attitudes toward longer commutes.
Passengers in Dhaka can now ride WiFi-equipped buses that promise uninterrupted internet service at traveling speeds of up to 60kph.
"I had to scream for at least 30 minutes to gather 50 passengers, but now I do not need to shout for long," Selim told Khabar South Asia. "Passengers – especially the younger ones – prefer our buses to private minibuses or auto rickshaws, even though our vehicles take longer."
The reason: buses equipped with free WiFi recently launched by state-owned Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC), as part of a move to advance the government's Digital Bangladesh programme.
Stockbroker Muktar Hossain said the "innovative" service is useful for his work. He spends Tk. 300 ($4) to travel from Uttara to his Motijheel brokerage house, where he must arrive before trading begins at 10.30am.
"Now, I can follow the (Dhaka Stock Exchange) website using the WiFi service on the bus and make buy-sell orders online from my mobile phone without any additional cost," Hossain told Khabar.
Previously, he had to spend extra money for net browsing on his smart phone. The free internet service lessens the anxiety about reaching the brokerage house before the markets open.
Better tracking, better service
The BRTC has also installed vehicle-tracking equipment to detect the real-time location of its buses. The first phase of the project involved 20 double-decker and articulated WiFi buses plying Dhaka's Uttara-Motijheel route.
"We have 600 buses for city service. Gradually, we will expand the service to other routes," BRTC Chairman Jasimuddin Ahmed told Khabar, adding passenger response was "greater than expected".
"Besides advancing the government's Digital Bangladesh initiative, the move will also make our buses attractive to commuters who want to stay connected while commuting."
Officials say passengers with WiFi-enabled laptops, netbooks, tablets and smartphones can get uninterrupted internet service even while travelling 60kph. Ahmed said BRTC would assign young IT students as volunteers to offer technical support on the buses.
Tejgaon College student and rider Imran Ahmed said the WiFi service was good for logging onto Facebook and other online portals.
"Passengers of the other routes should also get the service. Then the private bus operators would be forced to introduce similar services for us," he said.
