THE first bus equipped with free Wi-Fi for commuters has been unveiled as part of a 12 month trial.

Using 3G technology, the Wi-Fi can reach download speeds of up to 1.7mbs (megabytes per second).

The cost of the service will be covered by advertising and commercial sponsorships of each bus and tram.

The entire tram fleet, and an additional 19 buses, will have Wi-Fi on board by January.

Transport Services Minister Chloe Fox announced the trial ahead of the rollout of the new smart card ticketing system next month. The trial will target 18-24 year-olds who make up almost half of Adelaide Metro commuters.

"These initiatives are about providing our commuters with a better public transport system," Ms Fox said.

"Many of these commuters are students, so by providing free Wi-Fi they will be able to catch up on study and download data at no cost to them.

"For other commuters, it will provide the perfect opportunity to catch up on the latest news or check emails, all before they get to work or reach their destination."

Ms Fox said Wi-Fi would be rolled out across the entire Adelaide Metro fleet, including on trains, if the trial was successful.

Originally published as Free Wi-Fi trial on Adelaide bus