The Indian Railways has taken a major step forward in improving its connectivity and strengthening its communication facilities with the inauguration of its own state-of-the-art satellite-based VSAT hub system. This VSAT hub system is the first of its kind to be implemented and has been installed by the Indian Railways Project Management Unit (IRPMU), a railway organisation under North Central Railways. It is believed that this venture will usher in a new era of communication activity for the Railways, providing a vast number of voice, data and video applications starting from accident sites, issue of railway tickets from remote places and data connectivity to remote locations of the Freight Operating Information System (FOIS). Prior to this, Indian Railways was using hired hub services restricted to only 200 terminals. The connectivity of Railways will now be spread to about 1,000 remote locations.

The above VSAT network has been commissioned by leading satellite technology solution provider M/s Hughes Network of USA. K C Jena, chairman, Railway Board, lauded the above step taken by the Railways by stressing that information technology coupled with a voice and data communication network plays a pivotal role in providing a host of passenger-related services and enhancing growth and efficiency. Meanwhile, IRPMU is holding a series of discussions with leading satellite-based internet solution providers for provisioning internet in running trains. Initially, this concept will be tested in one of the trains between Mumbai and Ahmedabad and after a successful trial, the facility will be offered under PPP (Public Private Partnership) in major trains. Railways also plan to use this system for online reservation in running trains and operation and maintenance activities.