Delhi Metro and TSC Boost Free WiFi at Stations - Plans to Expand to Trains Next Year

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) yesterday announced the launch of free, high-speed WiFi at all 37 stations on its Yellow Line. The service, which is being rolled out across the entire DMRC system, is provided by a consortium headed by Techno Sat Comm and will eventually be available on all Metro trains as well as stations.

Delhi Metro serves a population of 11.2 million and is, by some way, the largest and most modern metro rail system in India. It spans 250km of track and boasts some 170 stations. Prior to the Yellow Line launch, the TSC-led consortium had installed WiFi on the Airport Express Line and in some 57 other Metro stations.

Coverage on the new line, which runs mostly underground through some of the most congested parts of the City, has seen 330 access points installed. In addition to regular commuters, the DMRC expects heavy usage of the WiFi from students travelling to and from the North Delhi Campus of Delhi University.

TSC won the contract to provide WiFi on the DMRC three years ago against stiff opposition from Vodafone, Reliance, Jio, Airtel O-Zone Networks and Microsense. The business model relies on advertising revenue generated by the sheer volume of users on the free WiFi service. A Proof of Concept of the ad-revenue model, seen by BWCS, showed very positive results over a four-month period in the early stages of roll out.

To access the system, commuters must first select “OUI DMRC FREE WiFi” on their mobile phones.

They will then enter their number to receive a one-time-password via SMS.

Once that is entered, travellers can straight away access the WiFi service.

The service is already available at all Blue Line and Airport Express Line metro stations. The Blue Line with 50 stations has over 400 access points, whilst the Airport Express Line, with only six metro stations, has 50 access points. With the launch of the Free WiFi service on the Yellow Line stations, the total number of stations offering WiFi in the Delhi Metro has reached 94.

The DMRC and Techno Sat Comm will launch the same Free WiFi service in the trains themselves within 12 months. As the number of regular users of the WiFi service grows, so TSC and partners will garner greater revenues and begin to profit from their underground investment.

Track-side connectivity and on-board WiFi provision will be the main subjects of BWCS’s WiFi on Trains Conference in London on the 16^th and 17^th of November.

The full list of speakers at this year’s Conference is available here … www.Traincomms.com where you can also sign up for our Free WiFi on Trains News Service.

The 2021 conference (www.Traincomms.com  ) is sponsored by Icomera, Nomad Digital, RADWIN, BAI Communications, Westermo and GlobalReach Technology.