Railways get clearance from ISRO for Internet surfing in trains without using data card
The Railways have got the much-awaited clearance from space agency ISRO for using the satellite for surfing the Internet in trains without using data card. A senior Railway Ministry official said, the Indian Space Research Organisation, ISRO has given the clearance for using the frequency from KU band for using the satellite for Internet. It will be for the first time that Internet will be operational in moving trains through satellite.
Though Railways had proposed two years back to provide Internet in trains, the project could not take off for the want of ISRO clearance. As per the proposal, three rakes of Howrah Rajdhani will be uplinked with satellite for facilitating Internet in coaches on a pilot basis. Since it is a pilot project, the Internet service will not be charged from the passengers.
Railways have sanctioned 6.30 crore rupees for providing Internet facility in Howrah Rajdhani. Now custom-made antenna will be installed on the locomotives of the train and coaches will be linked through Wi-Fi connectivity.
To make the Internet operational, the passenger will get a password in his mobile phone after dialling a number given by the TTE.