New Delhi: Expanding the high-speed internet network facility, Railways on Friday launched Google's free Wi-Fi service at Patna, Ranchi and Visakhapatnam railway stations.
"We had announced that we will launch Wi-Fi service across 400 stations in partnership with Google. I am happy at the pace at which the work is going on...within a year, the services will be offered at 100 stations," Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said after launching the service at three stations through video-conferencing from here.
He suggested that arrangement be made to ensure the service is available for only those who purchase tickets or "platform tickets at least".
According to Google, Prabhu said, the project will be the largest public Wi-Fi infrastructure in the world once it is fully operational. The Minister said the government has received positive feedback from users regarding the high speed Wi-Fi system, which is already made available at seven stations namely Mumbai Central, Bhubaneswar, Kacheguda, Vijayawada, Raipur, Bhopal and Jaipur.
The Wi-Fi facility at these stations has been commissioned by Railway Ministry PSU RailTel in association with Google for providing high speed internet to the commuters, an official statement said. According to the Ministry, the service built over the fiber network of RailTel Corporation is designed to offer high-speed broadband experience to users.
"Travellers passing through these stations will now be able to easily stream a high definition video while they're waiting, research their destination, download a book or a new game for their journey," the statement said.
RailTel roped in Google as the technology partner for setting up fast Wi-Fi network initially covering 100 A1 and A category railway stations with an aim of covering 100 millions per day by the end of 2016, it said.
