The DPMB WiFi trial period is coming to an end

Since 1 February 2019 passengers have been able to connect to DPMBfree WiFi on trams. It's a trial run offering 4 MB per connection with a maximum session of 20 minutes. Connection speed: 256 kbps. Welcome back to the year 2000!

Now to be a bit more serious — the transport company states that providing information about the current situation and planned changes to services is one of its top priorities. The DPMBinfo mobile app already does this — departure/arrival times, delays, etc. So if that's the actual goal, why not restrict the WiFi to data from this service only? It would fulfil the purpose and wouldn't cost them a fortune. Yes, they don't have unlimited data (a single vehicle can use up to 30 GB). The company expects to pay 2.3 million CZK a year.

My observations from using it:

• The connection is often better when you're 10 metres away from the tram rather than inside it (placement of the transmitters?)
• If you're in the rear of the tram you probably won't connect (probably distance from the transmitter)
• Standing at a stop trying to connect? You'll likely latch onto a tram going the other direction (if you're at the back)
• On trolleybuses, forget it — I only managed to connect once! (maybe they didn't have WiFi installed)
• For low-bandwidth services it's acceptable (Twitter is not one of them)

And none of this happens to you in Prague. The newer 15T trams have WiFi and I've never had any issues connecting there.