(a) whether the Union Government has taken a decision to provide free wi-fi at all railway stations and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the number of stations, where free wi-fi has been provided as on date and the target fixed for the same;
(c) whether the Union Government has collaborated with Google and Department of Telecommunication in this regard;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the details of source of funding for the world’s largest wi-fi project?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)
(a): Ministry of Railway has decided to provide free Wi-Fi facility at all stations except Halt stations, without involving any expenditure on Railways’ account.
Contd…..2/-
(b): Against the target for provision of Wi-Fi at 100 stations in 2016-17, 200 stations in 2017-18 & 500 stations in 2018-19, 707 stations have been provided with Wi-Fi facility as on date.
(c) & (d): RailTel has entered into an agreement with M/s Mahataa Information India Private Ltd. (MIIPL) (a group company of M/s Google Inc.) for providing Wi-Fi facility at “A1” and “A” category of stations.
(e): The cost of providing Wi-Fi at “A1” and “A” category of stations where RailTel has entered into agreement with M/s Mahataa Information India Private Ltd. (MIIPL) is shared by RailTel and M/s MIIPL.
RailTel has been advised to follow revenue sharing model for “B” & “C” category stations also.
Department of Telecommunication has been approached to provide funds under Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) for Wi-Fi at D & E category stations.
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