The Hindu : National : Railways to have VSAT communication hub soon

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 21, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

Railways to have VSAT communication hub soon

Sandeep Joshi

It can offer a host of mission critical applications
Provide Internet access on running trains

NEW DELHI: Indian Railways will soon have its own state-of-the-art communication network as it has signed a contract with global provider of satellite broadband services and managed network services – Hughes – to set up its first dedicated VSAT communication hub.

The VSAT hub (very small aperture terminal, a two-way communication network between a satellite and earth station) would allow the Indian Railways to not only offer a host of mission critical applications but also provide Internet access on running trains.

“Through our own VSAT hub, we will be able to offer applications and services like disaster communication system, accident relief train (ART), unreserved ticketing system (UTS) and freight operating information system (FOIS) in remote locations. The VSAT network would also help railways internet access on running trains, trial for which is already on in one of the trains between Mumbai and Ahmedabad,” said a senior Railway Board official.

Dedicated hub

The commissioning of the dedicated VSAT hub will allow Indian Railways to connect 1,000 locations across 19 States and give voice and data connectivity for their services at remotely located stations where fixed and mobile network of telecom operators have not reached so far.

According to Hughes India assistant vice-president (marketing) K. Krishna: “We have been working with the Indian Railways on various communication projects for the last two years. Their decision to partner with us as they embark to set up a dedicated VSAT hub for Indian Railways validates their confidence in our services and the efficacy of satellite as a medium of choice to run mission critical and consumer facing applications across the length and breadth of the country.”

Disaster communication system and UTS terminals were very critical applications for railways. Once successful, this would help railways in proliferating UTS terminals to remote areas and city centres as well as quick establishment of communication system at disaster management site, he said.

For disaster management, railways had already planned trackable Hughes VSAT terminals that would allow quick tracking and establishment of communication at accident sites in less than 15-20 minutes.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National