RailTel has recently launched its public WiFi services scheme – Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) – across 100 railway stations with 2,384 WiFi hotspots. These stations, which include 71 Category A1, A stations and 29 other category stations, are spread across 22 states. Puneet Chawla, Chairman and Managing Director of RailTel inaugurated the service. RailTel is a Mini Ratna PSU under the Ministry of Railways.
An initiative of the Department of Telecom, it intends to connect all silo Wi-FI networks for easy use and thus increase the base of broadband usage in India. It will serve as the most widespread integrated WiFi network in the country. As of now, it can be accessed using the android-based mobile app named ‘Wi-DOT’, which is available on Google Play Store.
RailTel has plans to extend its services to other stations as well. According to RailTel, 6,102 railway stations that already have WiFi facilities will benefit from the service by the end of June 2022. This will be done in a phased manner.
