In a major push to modernize public transportation across the country, the National Bus Company (NBC) announced the rollout of an integrated smart telematics tracking system across its entire fleet on June 10, 2026. The technology-driven initiative is designed to elevate operational efficiency, boost passenger safety, and deliver a more reliable experience for daily commuters, company officials confirmed.
The new platform will enable NBC’s central operations team to monitor multiple aspects of service in real time from a dedicated control room. Across all national highway routes, managers will be able to track precise vehicle locations, monitor travel speed, observe on-board conditions including the presence of unauthorized standing passengers, and assess the performance of drivers and conductors. Transport Minister Dr. Louis Zabaneh outlined the far-reaching benefits of the innovation in remarks at the launch event, noting that the system will streamline day-to-day operations while directly improving the quality of service for NBC’s passenger base.
Alongside the tracking system rollout, NBC is also restructuring its service categories to offer more choices for travelers. The existing lineup of regular and express routes will be expanded with a new premium service tier, reserved exclusively for buses aged seven years or newer to guarantee a higher standard of travel. Premium buses will be fitted with on-board Wi-Fi and other modern amenities to meet growing passenger expectations. While the two refurbished buses showcased at the launch, originally updated in 2016, do not qualify for the new premium classification, they will continue to operate on high-demand express routes.
Dr. Zabaneh confirmed that the company is moving forward with its planned fleet expansion, with the first 20 new premium buses expected to enter service by late August or early September 2026. This delivery marks the first step in NBC’s commitment to delivering on its public service promises, he added. A core regulatory goal of the new tracking system is to eliminate the longstanding safety issue of standing passengers on intercity national routes, by giving operations teams immediate visibility into overcrowded vehicles and enabling rapid corrective action. Transport ministry officials also expect the real-time driver performance monitoring to encourage safer, more consistent driving habits across the fleet, reducing accident risks and improving on-time performance for all routes.