Wi-Fi on trains has “no security risk”: Indian Railways
By
Mihir Patkar |
Updated on 21-Jul-2009
In a reply to a query on the state of the introduction of Wi-Fi Internet services on trains in India, Minister of State for Ministry of Railways, Shri E. Ahamed, said there was no security risk in implementing the same.
“Since Internet access to the passengers will be password protected and payment will be made through credit card of the user, therefore no security risk is apprehended in implementing this system,” stated his written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.
The facility of Internet services by using Wi-Fi system was demonstrated on a trial basis in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Shatabdi Express train from 11th to 24th January, 2009 and this was found successful. In fact, some people had reported using the Wi-Fi services much before the said trials, in what were probably early tests.
The initial demonstration in January was handled by TechnoSatComm, who used their ‘Business on Wheels’ system for the same.
Apart from regular Internet usage, the Wi-Fi services will also be used to provide real-time television through IPTV, on-demand movies, on-board train reservations, passenger information and VOIP services.
While initially, the project will be restricted to major trains plying between important metros – such as the Shatabdi and the Rajdhani – the company plans to roll out Internet services on all trains in the next five years.
“The proposal is under consideration to provide this facility in selected trains,” E. Ahamed wrote. With the breathtaking pace that the Indian government works with, we should see this within a week or two, yes?