Qatar completes trial of Papercast e-paper bus stop displays

Doha, the capital of Qatar and one of the oldest cities in the gulf region, has successfully completed a trial of Papercast solar powered e-paper passenger information displays. Papercast’s new 23” e-paper bus stop displays were installed in collaboration with local distributor and support partner Gulf Business Development Group on existing bus stop poles in the city.

Providing travelers with real-time bus arrival times, network information and service disruptions enables them to plan their trips more efficiently, while decreasing the perceived and actual wait times. This has a direct positive impact on the customer experience and ridership.

Using E Ink technology, Papercast e-paper bus stop displays are now well proven around the world, and Doha joins other prominent deployments across the Middle East region including Kuwait, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

“Papercast offers the most technically advanced bus stop passenger information display solution in the world,” comments Robert Bicket, CEO at Papercast. “Every aspect of our hardware, firmware, software and support is developed and managed in-house, resulting in a robust and resilient solution for even the most extreme outdoor environments”.

Doha has expanded dramatically following consistent economic growth and a sharp increase in population, resulting in traffic congestion and stress on the city’s infrastructure. Over the last decade, Doha has made significant investments in infrastructure projects to accommodate this rapid urban expansion and to provide an integrated public transport network.

More recently, the authorities sought to maximize the use of bus services in the city and improve service quality to attract more users. Introducing real-time passenger information will play a key role in this strategy.

The unique attributes of e-paper make it ideal for outside use, with unbeatable screen visibility, even in direct sunlight. Couple this with wireless connectivity and exceptionally low power consumption, and Papercast displays can be continuously solar powered – no power or connectivity cables are required. This means Papercast displays are quick to install to an existing pole or shelter, while offering a sustainable and environmentally friendly display technology.