Some public buses get free on-board Wi-Fi

TWO public buses on SMRT's 176 line have been fitted out with Singapore's first on-board wireless Internet service that lets commuters connect to the "Wireless@SG" network while on the bus, telco M1 said in a press release on Tuesday.

It said this "WiFi-On-The-Go" service was part of ongoing Heterogeneous Network trials, and held in collaboration with the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore.

Commuters will be able to identify the two Wi-Fi-enabled buses through on-board signs highlighting the service, M1 said, adding that each of the buses is linked to M1's 4G+ network via an "intelligent in-vehicle unit that boosts the bandwidth available to the on-board wireless network".

SMRT's Service 176 is a trunk route line that links Bukit Merah Interchange and Bukit Panjang Temporary Bus Park.

Commuters who happen to be HetNet trial participants will also get carrier Wi-Fi service on the connected buses by the end of April, M1 said, adding that its "M1WiFi" service will "seamlessly handover customers between M1's mobile network and the WiFi-On-The-Go service before, during and after their journey, to enable them to able to enjoy activities such as streaming HD video content without interruption".