Buses in Tehran public transportation fleet are to be refitted so commuters can have access to WiFi Internet and digital libraries for free. The services are already offered in three buses, the municipality’s bus transportation department chief said.
“Three buses equipped with Internet services have joined the fleet,” Peyman Sanandaji was quoted as saying by ICTNA.
In addition to the Internet and digital libraries, LCD display systems will be also installed on the buses.
Similar displays are installed in Tehran subway trains for paid advertisements or short clips delivering cultural messages.
Offering books and reading material in Tehran’s bus fleet is not new. More than 10 years ago, booklets were placed in buses so that passengers could enjoy a light reading during their journey. But the project flopped because the contents of the booklets had no appeal. Now with digital libraries, the passengers will have more options.
Establishing public WiFi network is gaining traction in Iran. Earlier in October three local mobile operators and one Internet service provider started offering public WiFi services in Tehran and some big cities. The services are available in 66 populated urban spots including airports, stadiums and commercial centers.
Using free public WiFi hotspots comes with serious security risks since the networks do not require authentication to establish a connection. This creates an opportunity for the hacker to get access to unsecured devices on the network.
But then again, it is a matter of choice whether or not to use a public network service. Those who are more cautious about the security of their devices will, obviously, think twice.
Add new comment
Read our comment policy before posting your viewpoints