• Home
• GOVERNMENT CXO
• E-GOVERNMENT
• CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT
• TAX AND REVENUE MANAGEMENT
• GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT
• GREEN GOVERNMENT
• GOVERNMENT DATA MANAGEMENT
• GOVERNMENT SECURITY
• GOVERNMENT CLOUD
• GOVERNMENT ANALYTICS
• GOVERNMENT GIS
• CONNECTED GOVERNMENT
• DIGITAL INCLUSION
• EDUCATION IT
• HEALTHCARE IT

Digital Inclusion

Australian state to roll out free wi-fi on trains

By Pia Rufino | 1 August 2011

Queensland transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced the government’s plan in spending AU$6.5 million (US$7.1million) to provide free wireless Internet services on all new Queensland Rail city trains from October.

The announcement follows the roll-out of the first test train which included tests of 3G coverage capability of internet and CCTV live streaming.

The first trial bus travelled across the City network wherein an average of 228 commuters were able to use the Wi-Fi services weekly.

Queensland Rail chief, Paul Scurrah, said the trial had allowed technological bugs to be removed.

“It was essential to get everything right in the trial to avoid costly and time-consuming issues when the technology was installed more broadly,” Scurrah said.

Scurrah likewise said the project will increase the security capacity by allowing live streaming from the CCTV cameras on board the Wi-Fi trains.

“Installation on the first of 64 new trains will begin in October and we’re expecting to have Wi-Fi installed across the entire 160 and 260 series fleet by the end of next year,” he said.

Palaszczuk claimed the project as the first of its kind in the country.

“This has never been done before on trains in Australia so we are again raising the bar when it comes to customer service,” she said.

The long haul Sunlander passenger train is expected to have Wi-Fi available in 2014.

Tweet

---