Facebook to provide free Wi-Fi at Indian Railways stations; in talks with RailTel

Six months after the Indian government deemed Facebook's idea of the Free Basics Programme unlawful, the social networking giant is now looking for a comeback into the Indian market. 

 

Six months after the Indian government deemed Facebook’s idea of the Free Basics Programme unlawful, the social networking giant is now looking for a comeback into the Indian market. This time, Facebook is delivering on its promise of Express Wi-Fi in remote Indian territories. The organisation is currently focussing on arranging this support to Railroad stations and rustic areas. Facebook has been reported to be holding talks with the RailTel to provide internet connections at railroad stations.

RailTel offers internet centres that tap into the optic fibre link running close to the tracks, which are spread over 70% of the country. The RailTel had earlier been in cooperations with Google to provide free Wi-Fi administrations to 400 railroad stations by 2017. This declaration was made by Google Ceo Sundar Pichai, when Indian Prime Minister had been on a trip to the valley, a year ago. The administration has gone live to 19 stations since the, getting used by more than 1.5million people.
The potential tie-up between RailTel and Facebook is likely to co-exist with the former’s partnership with Google to provide free Wi-Fi to at least 100 railway stations in the country. RailTel is also an internet service provider, with over 45,000 km of Optic fibre set up across the railway’s stations in India. The network connects about 4,500 cities and towns and about 5,000 railways stations across the country. RailTel is also known to be in talks with other telecom operators regarding similar service.

 

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