TM: Free Wi-Fi on the go

Visitors to Bogotá can now take additional steps in exploring a “virtual” city thanks to free public Wi-Fi coverage in 10 TransMilenio stations and 5 ‘portales.’ Inaugurated by Mayor Gustavo Petro mid March, the Wi-Fi coverage was put into effect as part of an ongoing effort by the mayoralty’s High Commission for Technology, Information and Communications to expand wireless communications in heavy-transited points of the metropolis.

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The stations which have ‘Conect@te’ access are: Ave. Rojas, Modelia, Normandía, Puente Aranda, Héroes, Mandalay, Calle 40 Sur, Mundo Aventura, Pradera and Américas/Cra 53A. The network is also available at the 5 main gateways of the TransMilenio articulated bus system: Usme, Tunal, Américas, Calle 80 and Suba.

Although during peak hours it may be hard to reach for a tablet, and a liability to talk on your hard-to-replace Galaxy or iPhone, the above mentioned stations will deliver data within a coverage of 400 meters and with 10 Megabytes. The service is available 24/7 and one can log on just by tapping the ‘WIFI_Bogotá’ link.

Having free Wi-Fi at transportation hubs, puts Bogotá among the “intelligent cities” of Latin America, and ranked third in the region – and above Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires – according to a recent ranking by U.S-based ‘Fast Company’ magazine.

Although free Wi-Fi has been well-received by an increasingly internet savvy populace, to quell concerns that more tablets, cellphones at stations could increase the risk of armed robbery, the Metropolitan Police has allocated and additional 500 cops to patrol all stations, especially those, with Wi-Fi bays.

So welcome free Wi-Fi on the go; and a necessary addition to living in an increasingly-connected city. Now that your daily commute on the bendy “red rocket” got that extra cyber boost, you must still be on your toes, and guard, with your digital toys.