Sofia Markusfeld / McGill Tribune

 This semester, the 30-minute commute between McGill’s downtown and Macdonald campuses will become just a bit more productive, as the buses now offer wireless Internet service.

McGill announced on Jan. 9 that students and staff with McGill usernames and passwords can use the Wi-Fi free of charge on the buses.  

Gary Bernstein, the Director of Network and Communications Services at McGill University, explained that the initiative began after he traveled from Montreal to Toronto. With Internet connectivity available on the Via Rail train, but not on his return aboard a Megabus coach, he realized how big of a difference Internet connectivity can make while in transit. 

“There are only a number of things you can do on a Blackberry,” Bernstein said. “But, it is easy, in this day and age, to set up a network anywhere.”

He explained that Telus donated a few USB mobile Internet  keys and, knowing it would be free of charge to the university, he began a trial service on one inter-campus shuttle bus. The trial phase began in mid-August even though the connection was weak. At that time, it was recommended that students not use the service for software updates, calls, or important work. Nonetheless, Bernstein said that he received a lot of positive feedback regarding the trial Wi-Fi. On Jan. 9  the service became standard on the buses. 

 “There are four buses that have Wi-Fi service,” Bernstein told the Tribune via email. “The blue bus (that is sometimes used as a replacement) does not have Wi-Fi. We did not feel that it was justified to spend money on a service that would not be used frequently. We have to pay for the Internet bandwidth on a per-bus per-month basis, whether or not it is used.”

Some students are unsure whether or not the new system will provide a consistent connection. 

“The question is: It is reliable?” Tracy Mcdonough, a Master’s student in nutrition at Macdonald Campus, said. “One … of [the] buses doesn’t yet have Wi-Fi, so you don’t know [if the bus you’re] going to be on [will carry service].” 

Many commuting students say they are enjoying the new service. 

“I have used it once or twice, and it seems to be working properly,” Brianna Kovarik, U0 education, said. “I always see laptops and iPads everywhere.”

When questioned whether the service is going to expand to other areas of campus, Bernstein presented a positive outlook that there will be greater Wi-Fi connectivity around campus and on other McGill-run shuttle buses, such as the shuttle buses travelling between the various hospitals operated by McGill University and its downtown campus.