The government-owned bus company, Great North Transport (GNT), has taken a significant step towards modernising travel by introducing complimentary Wi-Fi services on its buses. The company recently announced via social media that Wi-Fi is now available on 20 buses operating in Louis Trichardt and another 20 buses in Polokwane.
The main purpose of this initiative is to provide passengers with Internet connectivity during their journeys, allowing them to engage in various activities such as studying, conducting transactions, and accessing information without consuming their expensive mobile data plans. The Wi-Fi is offered for free and is supported by advertising services.
A regular GNT bus traveller, Rose Shilambyane, expressed her excitement about the newly introduced Wi-Fi services. She said, "I'm delighted to have Wi-Fi during my work commute. However, I also hope they focus on improving the comfort of the buses".
This complimentary Wi-Fi service is accessible to all passengers using GNT buses. However, access to adult and explicit content will be restricted. Mthunzi Dlamini, the interim manager of corporate communications at Limpopo Economic Development, Environment, and Tourism (LEDET), explained that this move was a crucial part of GNT's strategy to transform into a profitable enterprise. He stated, "The decision to provide free Wi-Fi aligns with the company's vision of embracing emerging technologies and enhancing operations. GNT selected a service provider through a competitive bidding process to manage advertisers for available advertising space on the buses, generating revenue for the company. Furthermore, the Wi-Fi speed measures at 12.7 Mbps for downloads and 16.1 Mbps for uploads."
Dlamini emphasised that the installation of Wi-Fi was a key element of a transit advertising and marketing project aimed at attracting more passengers and advertisers. He added, "The service is seamlessly provided without requiring any registration or disclosure of personal information."
In a separate statement, the Democratic Alliance (DA) expressed concerns about GNT's prioritising non-essential supplementary services for commuters over critical operational needs. The statement pointed out challenges faced by GNT in meeting its contractual obligations to provide an adequate fleet of buses by the fourth quarter of the 2022/23 financial year. Additionally, concerns were raised regarding the roadworthiness of GNT buses and ongoing issues at GNT bus depots.
The DA announced its intention to communicate with the chairperson of the portfolio committee at LEDET, Mr. Mapula Mokaba-Phuwana, urging the CEO of GNT, Dr Matate Mokoele, to provide an explanation for the decision to award a contract for Wi-Fi installation on their buses.