WiFi at 100 stations by December 2016: Suresh Prabhu

New Delhi, Sep 23 Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Friday said that high speed WiFi broadband services will be made available at 100 stations by December end.

"RailTel in partnership with Google is implementing the high speed WiFi broadband services. And this service has already been provided at 50 stations and will complete the target of 100 stations by December, 2016," Prabhu said at a seminar held here.

He also said that Railway PSU (Public Sector Undertaking) RailTel, plays a crucial role in providing digital connectivity through optical fibre.

"RailTel's PAN India optic fibre network is providing connectivity to more than four thousand stations in the country," he said.

Prabhu also pointed out that the "technology changes very fast and becomes obsolete" in due course and hence it is "necessary to keep pace with the latest changes and modification in the existing technology" and also "keep adopting updated forms of technology".

Highlighting the need to connect rural India, Prabhu said: "It is a huge challenge to reach out to all villages which we need to focus on."

"While we need widespread network of multiple modes of transport like rail and road to reach out to far flung areas, it is also necessary to provide digital rural connectivity across India."

"We have to definitely bridge rural-urban digital divide so that the benefits of modernisation and latest technology flow to rural areas," the Railway Minister added.

Referring to the usage of digital connectivity, Prabhu said that it can be used for telemedicine, education, entertainment and many other areas.

IANS