Passengers traveling on the "Oxford Tube" bus service between Central London and Oxford now have email and web access on the move at speeds up to 1.4Mbps thanks to the combination of Moovera's mobile Wi-Fi equipment and Vodafone UK's 3G broadband network.
Following an initial three-month trial by Stagecoach Group 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. Oxford Tube claims that a number of commuters have transferred from the railways and from rival coach operators due to the popularity of the free Wi-Fi service.
"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."
Internet connectivity is provided by Moovera's Moovbox M Series, a small device that creates a Wi-Fi network throughout a vehicle. The Moovbox bridges the Wi-Fi network with Vodafone UK's 3G broadband service that uses HSDPA to deliver download speeds of around 1.4Mbps. The Moovbox also provides a secure Internet link for in-vehicle applications including CCTV for remote camera monitoring, and features built-in GPS tracking so that fleet operators know where their vehicles are at any time of day or night."
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