Celcom Axiata to transform taxis into WiFi hotspots

KUALA LUMPUR: Being stuck in traffic inside a cab may be more bearable if all of them adopt a solution offered by Celcom Axiata Bhd, which has just inked a partnership to turn our taxis into WiFi hotspots.

Called Smartaxiads, the Malaysian-developed system is offered jointly via a partnership between Gigalink Solutions Sdn Bhd and the telco giant.

In a recent statement, Celcom’s chief business services and solutions officer Afizulazha Abdullah said Celcom’s platform integrates 3G connectivity with a digital platform that enables advertisements, news and other updates to be broadcast in taxis.

“We are supporting local entrepreneurs in their marketing convenience and business sustainability, and simultaneously leveraging on this platform to offer enhanced customer experience,” he said.

In the near future, taxi passengers can enjoy a full multimedia experience, including the latest touch screen technology and interactive content while simultaneously using bandwidth from Celcom’s 4G LTE network – all without paying anything more than their taxi fares.

Gigalink Solutions Sdn Bhd CEO Muhammad Reduan Abd Lah Sani said that taxi passengers using the WiFi hotspot spoke well of the speed of broadband powered by Celcom, which is accessible from all areas in the Klang Valley.

Smartaxiads will “bombard” the passengers in the back seat with advertisements through tablet-sized panels which will be installed at the driver’s and front passenger’s headrests.

A mini router will also be installed inside the headrests, while mobile broadband, activated when the taxi meter starts, will be provided via a customised dongle.

The price to pay for this free WiFi is navigating a sea of advertisements which are interspersed with updates on events in the city.

Around 500 taxis here have been fitted with Smartaxiads so far, with another 1,000 taxis expected to join the queue soon.

Smartaxiads will also be launched in Indonesia, with improvements including a panic button on the tablet for passengers to summon help during an emergency.