[News] AT HOP WiFi Launches at Train Stations
Today, Auckland Transport unveiled free WiFi internet access at 40 train stations in Auckland, on its public transport network. This comes after Auckland Transport recently unveiled new electric trains to replace the old, inefficient diesel trains previously being used.
The free WiFi service will be available to all eligible and registered AT HOP card users with some limitations:
- You must have a valid and registered AT HOP card;
- You must have used your AT HOP card within the last 5 days, excluding the day when the WiFi is used;
- You must have a positive account balance on your AT HOP card.
If one of these limitations above are broken, it may take up to 48 hours for your WiFi access to be restored from the time of correcting those limitations.
Customers without an AT HOP card have not been left in the dark, but they only get a mere 10 minutes of free WiFi per day.
This AT HOP Free WiFI is powered by Telecom NZ, the company who has also launched nearly 1000 WiFI hotspots around New Zealand to try and get free WiFi across the country. The only limitation of this one is that you have to be an eligible Telecom customer.
Ed Hyde, General Manager of the Digital Ventures team that developed this WiFI system has said that this is good news for Auckland’s public transport users and for international visitors.
“Greater connectivity on the go has huge benefits for transport users and for Auckland. People can better connect with their friends or keep in touch with their business or office while at the train station. International visitors can share their holiday experiences with family and friends. That’s all helping to make Auckland one of the world’s most liveable cities.
“Partnering with Auckland Transport to provide free WiFi for AT HOP users is a natural extension of the Telecom national WiFi strategy. We already have nearly 1000 WiFi hotspots around New Zealand, and partnering with key infrastructure providers such as Auckland Transport is the next step in delivering a seamless customer and mobility experience.”
This strategy then forces international visitors to buy an AT HOP card to use for its public transport network.
Auckland Transport are also reviewing the possibility of unveiling WiFI on trains, buses and ferries in the future. Bus stations and Ferry station WiFi hotspots will be unveiled in the upcoming weeks/months.
Eligible AT HOP users will be able to use the free WiFi at train stations with no daily time limit, but a data usage cap of 1GB a day will apply, plenty for the average Joe using public transport for the day.
To connect to the service, customers can log in using the last seven digits of their AT HOP card, no matter who their mobile provider is.
For more information please visit: https://at.govt.nz/bus-train-ferry/at-hop/at-hop-wifi/
