Tata Docomo Adds WiFi Connectivity To Kolkata Buses

Tata Docomo has added WiFi (Wireless Internet) connectivity on Buses in Kolkata.

The unified telecom brand of Tata Teleservices has announced this Pilot Project on select routes of Buses plying on Kolkata’s roads. The usage is free initially. Presently, people will be able to identify the buses with WiFi Connectivity owing to the extensive branding on the exterior. 2 routes; Airport- Tollygunge (via Sector V) and Barasat – Chetla (via Airport- to exide- to Rasbihari avenue) have been augmented with WiFi Buses, but Tata Docomo is in the process of evaluating the response.

How to avail free WiFi? The Free time–limit of the WiFi is 15 minutes. However, the company hasn’t confirmed the charges post that duration.

Tata Docomo has pasted all the requisite details about accessing WiFi on the back of each seat. Additionally, the company has even attached NFC (Near Field Communications) Chips to the placard. In the absence of NFC capability on the users’ phones, they can even scan a QR Code to attach themselves with the WiFi. The phone number of the user will serve as the registration gateway and they will receive the password via SMS.

The company has specifically chosen Kolkata owing to its bus routes and targeted demographic, explained Ashok Ghose, MBU Head- East, Tata Docomo,

“In Kolkata these buses cover the length and breadth of the city ferrying young professionals, students, general passengers. Often on the long journey you find commuters doing work, watching movie on their laptop or iPads, reading on their Kindles or listening to music on their smart phones. We just thought that here is a place that is tailor made for innovation like this. With a Photon Max Wi-Fi we connect multiple devices at a single time. We are confident that commuters will appreciate this initiative.”

Ashok clearly indicated that the product used to enable internet connectivity on a moving platform is Tata Docomo’s Photon Max Wi-Fi, which is the company’s CDMA based device. Its theoretical top–speed is 6.2 Mbps and a single device is able to connect to 5 devices simultaneously. Considering the fact that the public service buses ferry more than 50, there will have to be as many as 10 devices on board each bus. However, the company has refrained from offering the exact details. The company has recently increased its focus on WiFi.

WiFi on moving vehicles, including buses is certainly not a new technology. However, Tata Docomo seems to have grabbed an interesting opportunity to advertise its products and earn from people who wish to use the internet for longer than 15 minutes.

Source | indiadigitalreview

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