Robi Axiata has introduced Wi-Fi services in 100 buses and 100 taxis in Bangladesh as part of a government-led project to improve internet availability in the nation.
The network services will be available for all users with Wi-Fi enabled devices. Robi will offer its customers purchasing data packs of at least 1GB free Wi-Fi quota to use on the network, and plans to introduce bundles with Wi-Fi quotas in the near future.
Robi has formed partnerships with local broadband provider Qubee and technology services providers AccessTel, and Aamra to deploy and maintain the hotspots. The rollout on buses and taxis is being conducted in partnership with e-commerce and e-business aggregator Coalesce.
Over the next six months, the Wi-Fi project will be extended to a total of 500 restaurants and cafes, 100 educational institutes, 10 public places, 350 buses, taxis and trains, as well as airport and rail stations.
Robi is partnering with the government on a project to realize the vision of a Digital Bangladesh, and improving internet connectivity in the nation is a key component of this initiative.
The move comes soon after Singaporean operator M1 and the nation’s Infocomm Development Authority commenced a trial of their own Wi-Fi service for public buses operated by Singapore’s main public transport operator SMRT.