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Pakistan Railways to Offer Free On-board WiFi in 3 Months
(10 Oct 2018, BWCS Staff)Pakistan Railways says it is poised to launch WiFi on its trains across the country within 100 days. The country’s Minister for Railways, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, a long-time fan of on-board Internet connectivity claimed this week - “Initially, all passenger trains will have the facility of WiFi and tracking and after that these facilities will also be given in the freight trains.”
According to the Ministry, around 60% of the work needed to make the WiFi on Board project a reality has already been carried out. The government has said that much of the software and related equipment has been provided from ex-pat Pakistanis working abroad.
The state-owned transport giant is the midst of a modernisation programme - Pakistan Railways Vision 2026, which seeks to increase its share of the transportation sector from 4% (2014) to 20%. As part of this scheme the company is introducing e-ticketing services. According to reports in the local press an agreement exists between Pakistan Railways and United Bank Ltd for providing a mobile and online ticket system which allows passengers to use credit or debit cards or their mobile banking app to purchase tickets.
The train operator has offered WiFi services on board its flagship business express train between Lahore and Karachi since 2012. The Pak Business Express covers the 1,200km journey in around 18 hours. The train is a joint venture between Pakistan Railways and private investment vehicle M/S Four Brothers.
Pakistan Railways has also been offering WiFi on its re-branded Greenline trains covering the 23 hour haul between Karachi and Islamabad. However, the service came in for criticism over the speed and extent of coverage offered on the route.
The railway system in Pakistan is currently undergoing an US$8.5 billion upgrade as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project. The first phase of the project was completed in 2017 and the remainder by 2021.
As ever, on-board WiFi, trackside networks, the growing market for passenger WiFi services and on-board entertainment will be the main subjects of BWCS’s WiFi on Trains Conference 2019. For more information on next year’s conference please contact Ross.Parsons@BWCS.com
The 2018 conference (www.Traincomms2018.com )was sponsored by Icomera, Nomad Digital, Fluidmesh, 21Net, RADWIN and BAI Communications.
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