First Cymru adds in-vehicle broadband from Moovera

First Cymru, a division of FirstGroup Plc, has choosen Moovera Networks’ technology to provide broadband Internet connectivity and GPS-based vehicle tracking on its bus services in Wales.

First Cymru’s Shuttle100 fleet, which runs between Swansea and Cardiff, has been equipped with the Moovbox M100 mobile broadband gateway. This allows passengers to access broadband services at speeds of up to 1.8Mbps, and also provides real-time GPS-based tracking.

First Cymru is the first bus operator in Wales to adopt the technology across a dedicated route and fleet of coaches. As well as expanding services to passengers, the technology also improves the company’s ability to monitor the position of the fleet’s vehicles.

The Moovbox M100 mobile broadband gateway, a ruggedized Wi-Fi access point and cellular router, works in conjunction with the next-generation 3G HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) mobile broadband network from Vodafone UK.

Since the Internet service was launched in January the average online session length has been over half an hour.

UK-based Moovera Networks manufactures industrial-grade fixed, mobile and portable wireless communications products.