How Growth Tech Limited and the JUTC are launching Free Wi-Fi by June 2018

“This is a revolutionary partnership with the JUTC to provide free Wi-Fi access to passengers. Our vision is to eventually see data services in Jamaica become like oxygen, available to everyone, everywhere. In a few months, a sizable number of Jamaicans will have a new avenue to access connectivity - email, browsing, and messaging - facilitating a more productive and enjoyable commute”

Growth Tech's Chief Executive Officer Neil Lawrence, speaking at the contract-signing ceremony at the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology in St Andrew.

Looks like I might soon have another reason to take the JUTC Bus again!

Growth Tech Limited has signed a partnership deal with the JUTC (Jamaica Urban Transit Company) to provide Wi-Fi connectivity on approximately 450 buses as reported in the article “JUTC Passengers To Enjoy Free Wi-Fi Service”, published Thursday March 8, 2018 by Jason Cross, The Jamaica Gleaner. 

The implementation is slated to start in June 2018 in the KMTR (Kingston Metropolitan Area) with other JUTC buses being upgraded by December 2018.

So how does Growth Tech plan to make money from this venture if the Wi-Fi service is free?

Growth Tech Limited and the JUTC - Free Wi-Fi with a sprinkling of local Advertising

The answer is advertising!

Commuters may have to install an app to access the free W-Fi and thus be bombarded with a lot of local ads as pointed out by Growth Tech's Chief Executive Officer Neil Lawrence, quote: “We are a business, so there is an opportunity for us to earn. We will be selling ads”.

This is not much different from the model Red Stripe uses to promote Beer-Fi, which is advertising based free Wi-Fi at Bars that sell their brewed products as noted in my blog article entitled “How Red Stripe Beer-Fi gives Bar Patrons Free Wi-Fi Internet”. 

Growth Tech Wi-Fi Hotspots may also be solar powered and can handle up to 100 devices. Most likely they'll be using Digicel 4G Network to provide backhaul to their Network as was the plan back in September 2016 as noted in my blog article entitled “Why JUTC Wi-Fi by September 2016 means Digicel Mobile Money launch imminent”. 

Growth Tech will remotely monitor their Wi-Fi Hotspots which have been tested to withstand the day to day commute on Jamaica's pothole ridden roads.

As for porn and other content, forget about it. The usage will be monitored and abusive behavior such as streaming may be banned; this may just simply be free Wi-Fi for checking social media and Whatsapp calling.

They may even have login restrictions similar to the USF (Universal Service Funds) CAP (Community Access Points) located at various Parks and Public places as noted in my blog article entitled “How Free Wi-Fi and Smart City upgrade coming to New Kingston in Q3 2017”. 

The JUTC benefits as more Jamaicans will ride the Bus just to get the free Wi-Fi, increasing their revenue as pointed out by JUTC's Managing Director Paul Abrahams quote: “We are looking for this initiative to increase ridership significantly, and that is where our interest is, and, possibly, generating revenue from advertising”.

So with the JUTC going towards LNG (Liquid Natural Gas) and eventually Hybrid Gas-Electric Buses by 2020 as predicted in my blog article entitled “Why JUTC going Hybrid indicates removal of 60% import duty on Electric Vehicles”, the future is looking very interesting for commuters of the JUTC.