Jamaica Urban Transit Company Launches Public Internet Service
By: , February 14, 2016The Key Point:
Photo: Mark Bell
Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Minister, Hon. Phillip Paulwell (left, seated); and Transport, Works and Housing Minister, Dr. the Hon. Omar Davies (right, seated), peruse their mobile devices after accessing the Jamaica Urban Transit Company's (JUTC) Wi-Fi Internet service on one of the state entity's buses, during Friday's (February 12) launch of the Wi-Fi Systems Pilot Project, at the Half Way Tree Transport Centre in St. Andrew. Looking on, from left, are: Manager, Information Technology, JUTC, Brian Tulloch; Chief Executive Officer, Universal Service Fund (USF), Hugh Cross; and JUTC Managing Director, Colin Campbell.The Facts
- Mr. Campbell advised that, come September, all JUTC buses operating within the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region (KMTR) should be equipped with Wi-Fi capabilities.
- The project is being financed by the Universal Service Fund (USF), and implemented in partnership with telephone and internet service provider, Digicel, and National Outdoor Advertising (NOA) Limited.
The Full Story
The Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) is slated to expand the provision of free internet access, currently offered to commuters travelling on some of the state entity’s buses, by the start of the 2016/17 academic year in September.
This was disclosed by Managing Director, Colin Campbell, during Friday’s (February 12) launch of the company’s Wi-Fi Systems Pilot Project at the Half Way Tree Transport Centre in St. Andrew.
The initiative has already been rolled out on buses plying two routes: # 130 which runs between Kingston and New Harbour in St. Catherine; and # 24 Express, from Spanish Town and the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Campus.
Mr. Campbell advised that, come September, all JUTC buses operating within the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region (KMTR) should be equipped with Wi-Fi capabilities.
He said each unit will be able to accommodate up to 32 connections, which will allow approximately 60 per cent of the passengers using the regular, express, premium, and charter services to access the internet at the same time.
Additionally, Mr. Campbell said the company will also be providing free Wi-Fi service at all major JUTC transport centres, at Half Way Tree, downtown Kingston, Portmore, and Spanish Town.
“I think that we are launching a product which is great for our commuters… (and which) we believe…will significantly improve the travel experience,” he added.
Transport, Works and Housing Minister, Dr. the Hon. Omar Davies, who spoke at the launch, commended the management’s undertaking to further improve client service delivery, as also “the (overall) work which they have done in moving the JUTC forward over the past few years.”
Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, who brought greetings, said the initiative is consistent with the Government’s mandate to provide free Wi-Fi access in public spaces islandwide.
The project is being financed by the Universal Service Fund (USF), and implemented in partnership with telephone and internet service provider, Digicel, and National Outdoor Advertising (NOA) Limited.