The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) has awarded AT&T a contract to provide a Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN). The AT&T system will facilitate real-time fare collection — which reduces passenger boarding times — and simplifies fare payment.

Additionally, the UTA will implement an automated vehicle location (AVL) system providing UTA buses the ability to regularly communicate their position to a central dispatch location and allowing passengers to access real-time information about UTA services. The AVL system will transmit the UTA data using the AT&T 3G wireless network and GPS.

The UTA is also considering future wireless applications with AT&T such as passenger Wi-Fi and electronic signage.