Indian trains may soon have internet access, thanks to a plan by Hughes Communications India to set up the first very small aperture terminal hub (VSAT) for Indian Railways, reports the Economic Times.

The company plans to install a satellite-based infrastructure which can eliminate blackspots. Satellite dishes installed at the front and tail-ends of the train will ensure that connectivity is uninterrupted even when a train enters a tunnel. Hughes has provided internet access in more than 100 trains in Europe.

The railways can connect 1,000 locations across 19 states, as against 200 previously, and can also provide voice and data connectivity even in remote stations where fixed and mobile networks are not available. 

The railways could lure short-distance business travellers who might prefer such trains to flights, as airports in cities such as Bangalore are situated well out of town. This way the aviation industry’s loss may soon be the railways’ gain. X