Some years back, most people wouldn’t have believed the internet would turn out to be what it is today. These days, almost every household has home internet installed. Even major cities and towns across the world are now offering free internet to their residents.
The trend has now caught up with bus owners looking to provide passengers with an enjoyable ride to and from their destinations. For some, Wi-Fi or internet in buses can look like a luxury. However, some people, mostly students, can use it to research school assignments.
Benefits of Internet in Buses
Nowadays, everything has gone digital, including newspapers. It’s hard to see someone boarding a bus with the day’s paper in hand. Most people, especially employees, will want to spend their commute time reading the day’s paper on their phones. Having internet access on the bus means that passengers can read the day’s articles on their phones.
Boredom, especially during long commutes, can be detrimental, especially for passengers who aren’t avid book readers. Having internet in buses will allow the commuters to access YouTube, social networks to entertain themselves during the trip. Moving on, they will rate the ride as quite enjoyable and turn out to be daily customers.
How Bus Internet Works
Some people may be wondering how does it work in the first place? Well, the internet is supplied via an access point. The access point could be a router or an SD-WAN device fitted with an LTE interface of a WAN connection. The access point in the bus receives a cellular internet connection similar to your phone.
The internet speed can hit speeds of up to 15mbps, which is faster than what is found in most airports and public parks. The internet in buses can serve close to 100 passengers at a time. Some of the Wi-Fi networks are open, meaning you can use them without using any password.
Even though this may seem hassle-free, it isn’t safe. So, avoid using the internet in buses to access your bank account or accessing private accounts as you’re susceptible to attacks from hackers.
You can download and install a VPN on your phone or laptop to boost your online safety when using public internet in buses.
Purchasing an AP for Your Bus
If you own a bus or a fleet of buses and would like to provide internet services to your clientele, you need to consider a couple of factors.
First, you should check the bandwidth. Nothing is as stressful as using slow Wi-Fi. Also, check the number of clients the AP can support. Most high-end APs or routers will support up to 100 users at a go which is perfect for a bus.
Next, ensure the router supports multi-band connectivity on various cellular networks across the country. A decent AP should have a signal booster so that also passengers can receive a full-bar signal on their devices.
Last, review the build. You want something with a tough casing and proper anti-theft features.