Question : Wi-Fi at Railway Stations

(a) the number of railway stations where Wi-Fi services are proposed to be provided, State-wise;

(b) the names of service providers with which agreement has been signed for providing free Wi-Fi services at railway stations along with the details of conditions prescribed in the agreement;

(c) whether the Ministry has any data regarding the percentage of people using free mobile Wi-Fi service at present and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the total fund allocated by the Government so far for providing free Wi-Fi service at railway stations?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a): Wi-Fi services have been provided at 715 no. of railway stations as on 14.12.2018. Wi-Fi services are proposed to be provided on 5734 railway stations. State-wise list of 5734 Railway stations is appended.

(b): RailTel Corporation of India Limited (RCIL), a Public Sector Undertaking under Ministry of Railways has entered into an agreement with M/s. Mahataa Information India Private Limited (M/s. MIIPL), an Indian subsidiary of Google Inc. for providing free Wi-Fi at 438 A1 and A category stations. The complete cost has been shared by RCIL and MIIPL.

RCIL has also entered into Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Universal Services Obligation Fund (USOF) / Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications for providing Wi-Fi services at 200 rural railway stations.

(c): Yes, Madam, Free mobile Wi-Fi services at 715 railway stations have been used by 1.3 million unique users till the month of October 2018.

(d): The cost of providing Wi-Fi at 438 stations where RCIL has entered into agreement with M/s. MIIPL is shared by RCIL & M/s. MIIPL and no fund has been provided by Government. However, the cost of providing Wi-Fi at 200 rural stations where RCIL has entered into an agreement with Ministry of Communications, the funds of ? 27.77 Crore have been provided by Ministry of Communications under USOF.
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