Tait wins big on London buses

Christchurch-based Tait Communications has won a contract worth $30 million over several years to replace London’s bus radio communications system with a new digital mobile radio system aimed at preparing it for the future.

Privately owned Tait Communications had been selected by Transport for London to manufacture and replace both the communications infrastructure providing coverage across Greater London and the terminal equipment on London’s fleet, Tait said.

TfL’s bus network consists of more than 650 contracted bus routes served by over 9500 vehicles with a network of more than 19,000 bus stops.

Every day, more than 31 million journeys are made across its public transport and main road networks.

Tait chief executive Garry Diack said the bulk of the $30m would come in the first year to get equipment installed and the network running.

The on-bus equipment was based on Tait’s UnifyVehicle platform, which gave access to multiple carrier standards in addition to mobile radio (that is, next-generation cellular and WiFi), and the ability to run customised data applications to improve operational efficiency and the service provided to travellers, the company said.

Tait is already operating in the Irish bus system.