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Kazak Rail Steppes Up With New WiFi System
(01 Nov 2016, BWCS Staff)Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ) has launched a trial WiFi service on board trains running along one of its most popular routes (Astana – Borovoye). The system is part of a pilot project to provide wireless broadband services on all of the operator’s trains using a single network.
KTZ has employed the services of InfiNet Wireless, based in Malta but with a large research and development facility in Yekaterinburg in Russia, to install the trial equipment and manage the system.
According to the train company, tests so far have shown the system capable of reaching download speeds of up to 80Mbps on trains travelling at speeds of up to 200kmh. The pilot scheme has also allowed the train operator to add on-board CCTV services and alarm buttons linked to a monitoring centre. In addition, InfiNet says the system is designed to provide an interactive wireless ticketing system which connects the trains to a data transfer network.
KTZ cannot be accused of lacking ambition. In 2014 it opened two major new routes criss-crossing the country. The first of these has cut around 1,000km link on the east to west route from the Chinese border to the Caspian Sea port of Aktau. The second route, which was partially opened in 2013, runs from north to south providing a link to Turkmenistan and which will ultimately reach into Iran.
The operator has not yet announced a timetable for the full roll out of the in-train WiFi system.
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