Sevana: Google bringing Wi-Fi to Indian train stations

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Google bringing Wi-Fi to Indian train stations

Is partnership with rail service setting stage for larger service rollout?

As service providers and venue owners race to support connectivity in crowded public spaces, Google appears poised to make major inroads into the India market through a partnership with Tri-Rail.

RailTel runs a large transportation system in India and, according to reports, has partnered with Google on Project Nilgiri, which will see Wi-Fi access added to some 400 train stations around the country.

The preliminary reports suggest users will be able to get free high-speed Internet access for the first half-hour of use, then based on a pay model after that. The connection will be made with mobile number verification through a password sent over SMS.

Perhaps more interesting, is speculation that the partnership could grow into something much more widespread as Google could access RailTel’s significant right-of-way corridors associated with train routes.

Trak.in calls the Google/RailTel partnership a “masterstroke” for the U.S. tech giant and, via Google Fiber and Project Loon, service provider.

RailTel has a fiber network covering thousands of miles and, via its designation as a public sector entity, has access to spectrum assets.

South Florida passengers get in-train Wi-Fi

In other Wi-Fi news impacting the transportation space, bus riders in Miami are getting used to a much more connected commute, according to The Miami Herald.

The regional transportation system Tri-Rail has hooked all 50 passenger cars up with free Wi-Fi with the next step being to connect stations.

A Tri-Rail spokeswoman told The Miami Herald, “It will probably take until the end of the year to get everything tested and working.”

The Wi-Fi deployment comes in tandem with release of an app that lets riders geo-locate train and time arrivals and departures.

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