The National Information Society Agency (NIA) and the Ministry of Science and ICT said on May 28 they will push ahead with introducing WiFi 7 to public WiFi on city buses nationwide so anyone can stably use ultra-high-speed wireless internet services when using public transport.

Bus public WiFi provides free WiFi service to city bus passengers nationwide, helping reduce the public’s telecom cost burden and improving access to digital services while on the move. Data usage stood at 75,777TB as of 2025, about double 38,728TB in 2023.

That has increased the need to provide more stable wireless internet services. The ministry and NIA will replace existing public WiFi equipment with 5G-backhauled WiFi 7 wireless access points (AP) on about 29,000 city buses nationwide. WiFi 7 is a next-generation wireless communications technology with improved transmission speed and response speed versus WiFi 6 and 6E. It supports up to 320MHz bandwidth for faster data transmission. It can also use multiple frequency bands simultaneously through multi-link operation (MLO) technology.

The project will raise the monthly data allowance per bus AP to 300GB from 200GB. It will strengthen service quality standards so that speeds of at least 100 Mbps can be maintained through a data peace-of-mind option (QoS) even if usage exceeds contract-based thresholds. It will also reorganise the bus public WiFi project, previously operated in phases 1 to 3, into an integrated system to improve service quality management and operating efficiency.

A tender notice for the project is currently under way. Details can be checked on the Public Procurement Service’s Narae Jangteo procurement portal. After selecting a preferred bidder in the first half of the year, equipment installation and a pilot operation will follow, with full service to be provided within the year.