Santa Clara VTA renews long-term Wi-Fi Service Agreement with Icomera

Icomera is pleased to announce it has renewed a long-term partnership with the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority to supply Wi-Fi, Mobile Networking solutions and ongoing support.

Santa Clara VTA operates a fleet of light rail trains and buses in the heart of Silicon Valley, providing much-needed connectivity for over 43 million passengers annually. Icomera Wi-Fi solutions have been deployed on VTA vehicles since 2011, bringing free 4G Wi-Fi to all VTA light rail trains, and are currently being installed on all buses (575 vehicles).

The new two-year support contract between VTA and Icomera reaffirms VTA’s commitment to providing an industry-leading onboard passenger experience. Since ongoing monitoring is a contributing factor to the success of any passenger Wi-Fi solution, Icomera will provide a dedicated technical account manager to proactively monitor the VTA account and perform remote troubleshooting. Personalized training and webinars will also be provided for VTA staff, allowing them to maximize the benefits of Icomera’s web-based MoovManage application. Among other features, MoovManage monitors cellular data usage, allowing VTA to set usage thresholds to fairly distribute available bandwidth between passengers, as well as displaying a real-time view of the network and component health.

Icomera is a global company supplying a range of mobile Internet connectivity solutions for public transport. In addition to passenger entertainment, its open application platform connects transportation operators to a range of innovative services, aimed at improving operational efficiency and onboard safety. Having launched the US subsidiary in 2014, the contract with VTA marks a major milestone in Icomera’s US strategy.

VTA Chief Information Officer Gary Miskell said, “Keeping passengers connected while on the move is essential for boosting both the local and global economies. We have been committed to the ongoing rollout of Icomera Wi-Fi on our vehicles since 2011, gradually upgrading our Wi-Fi to Icomera’s premier M340 mobile routers. We are pleased to take this next step in our relationship with Icomera.”

Matt Hardison, President of Icomera US, said: “In the first six months of 2016, 77,435 passengers connected to VTA’s onboard Wi-Fi service 750,565 times – proving yet again that Icomera solutions allow passengers to remain connected to their personal and professional networks while in transit. We’re pleased to renew our relationship with VTA, and support them in their ambition to provide worthy incentives for public transportation use in the Silicon Valley, reducing congestion and increasing productivity.”

About Icomera

Icomera is the world’s leading provider of open Internet connectivity and application platforms for passenger transport and public safety. Its award-winning products are deployed on rail, road and sea, serving millions of Wi-Fi users every week across the globe and providing high-speed access for fleet tracking and mission-critical onboard systems. Icomera is headquartered in Sweden with offices in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany and channel partners worldwide. 

About Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is an independent special district, providing sustainable, accessible, community-focused transportation to promote the vitality of the region. VTA provides bus, light rail, and paratransit services, as well as participating as a funding partner in regional rail services including Caltrain, Capital Corridor and the Altamont Corridor Express.