‘Digital bus’ hits Dhaka roads

State-run Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) is pressing into service in capital Dhaka on Thursday 10 public buses offering free Wi-Fi facility.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 9 April 2014, 06:30 PM
Updated : 9 April 2014, 06:30 PM

Communications Minister Obaidul Quader and State Minister for Information and Communications Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak will inaugurate the buses in the afternoon at Farmgate, said BRTC Chairman Jasimuddin Ahmed.

At least 40 passengers can use internet with their devices on the buses each. Controlled by vehicle tracking technology, they are being called ‘digital buses’.

Palak told bdnews24.com on Wednesday that the buses will run on Motijheel-Uttara route.

He said the vehicle tracking technology would enable the passengers to know from anywhere and anytime the exact position of buses.

The BRTC chairman said Wi-Fi facility would be installed to other buses in phases.

He said Access to Information (a2i) programme under the Prime Minister’s Office was extending technical support to BRTC for the Wi-Fi service.

Another BRTC official said four 3G Wi-Fi routers of state-run mobile-phone operator Teletalk would be installed on each bus.

The official said there would be no problem using internet even when the bus was travelling at 55-60 kilometre per hour.

He said Wi-Fi was being installed on BRTC buses taking into consideration that presently 10 percent of the mobile-phone subscribers used smart devices.