Dublin Bus to start Wi-Fi trial next week

DUBLIN BUS is to begin a wireless internet trial on a number of buses from next week.

A total of 10 buses serving the 16 route – between Ballinteer and Santry – will offer the service to passengers free over the next two months.

A Dublin Bus spokeswoman said posters would be used to highlight the availability of the service on the selected buses.

She said the trial would be used to evaluate if it was viable to extend wireless internet access across the entire fleet.

The company has published a pre-selection tender process seeking proposals from potential suppliers to see how much rolling out the technology across 800 to 900 buses would cost.

“This process does not represent a commitment to purchase, and any possible purchase(s) resulting are dependent on availability of funding,” the tender document says.

Bus Éireann, Iarnród Éireann and a number of private bus companies currently offer similar technology on selected routes.

The Dublin Bus tender covers the supply, support and installation of Wi-Fi equipment to provide internet access for passengers but also to send telemetry information, eg the location and speed of the bus.

Companies wishing to be considered for the pre-selection process must have three years trading history and a turnover of at least €1.5 million in their most recent financial year.

Bus Éireann currently provides free Wi-Fi on 43 of its vehicles which cover commuter, city and inter-city routes.

A spokesman for Bus Éireann said it hoped to provide the service on all its inter-city routes by the end of this year.

The State-owned company will start receiving delivery of 88 new buses at the end of this month all of which will have Wi-Fi capability.

Dublin City Council is assessing the possibilities for offering free internet access in the city’s parks and main thoroughfares.

The main proponent of the scheme, Cllr Oisín Quinn, believes it could have positive benefits for tourism in the city.