VOD Communications showcased mobile connectivity for transportation on 9th March in Centurion, Gauteng Province in South Africa. Bringing together managers and solutions engineers, "Connected Transport" was the first in a series of planned networking events to present leading 3G/4G/LTE networking solutions to key industry players across a number of market verticals.

This first event highlighted rapid developments in transportation technology that are opening up new opportunities for mass transit networks, service fleets, and the emergency services. Advances in wireless technology mean that it is now possible to create in-vehicle wireless networks that allow fleet operators and first responders to operate more effectively and provide new levels of service to their customers.

Present at the meeting were representatives from companies such as UTI, Oakley Group, RTT, Worldnet Logistics, Boxfresh and the Post Office. Also present were VOD Communications' Value Added Resellers SITA, Nxatel and AIT Group. The keynote speaker was Ann Kleynhans, nominated as Africa's most influential woman of the year in ICT and Founder of CEOS Technologies.
Sugan Ganasen, Head of Sales at VOD Communications said: "The demand for in-vehicle Wi-Fi is expanding in South Africa and across the entire SSA region. Choosing the right mobile connectivity solution can enable many benefits, from increased security to digital signage, electronic ticketing and real-time passenger information.

"At VOD Communications we offer a range of products from industry leaders such as Cradlepoint. This event presented an excellent opportunity to show real-world examples of the benefits of transportation Wi-Fi."

Ann Kleynhans, Founder of CEOS Technologies said: "In-vehicle network solutions are changing how we live and how we work. People expect internet access while they're on the move. This meeting gave end-users and partners a forum to learn about what is happening in mass transit mobility and engage with peers about how these advances are transforming their businesses and our communities."

Among the attendees was an account manager from UTI, Richard Aikman, who identified an opportunity to look into failover and out-of-band management for their warehouses. They are currently testing Cradlepoint's COR IBR 1100 Cellular Router in readiness for potential applications with bus companies.

Hubert Da Costa, Vice President EMEA, Cradlepoint said: "Products such as the Cradlepoint COR IBR 1100 are ideal for transportation, with ruggedised features that have been specifically engineered for mission-critical connectivity in the most challenging environments.

"Our all-in-one approach to setting up internet connectivity when wired or WiFi connections aren't available works with virtually all wireless carriers and offers best-in-breed applications for fleets through our Enterprise Cloud Manager software."

Ashley Carolissen, Head of Networking and Infrastructure for the Post Office, South Africa said: "Connectivity is a real challenge in rural and remote areas of our region. I already have five regional offices and a small fleet of Post Office Vans that go to remote villages to provide all sorts of services for the communities and can see some real opportunities with Cradlepoint solutions."

As a result of this event, Ashley and Ann have discussed working together to support women in rural communities by providing office facilities in a van that could bring Wi-Fi access to them. This venture, supported by CEOS Technologies, could provide women training to improve their skills increase their employability.