Pakistan Railways Cannot Equip Trains With WiFi: PTA

Pakistan Railways faces limitations in providing WiFi services to passengers on its trains, according to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). The regulator informed the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication that Pakistan Railways cannot directly offer commercial internet services using its existing telecommunications license.

The PTA clarified that the license permits the department to establish, operate, and maintain a dedicated telecommunications system solely for noncommercial data and value-added services essential to its institutional operations. This license, issued under Section 5(2)(a) of the Pakistan Telecommunication (Reorganization) Act, 1996, is intended for internal use only and does not grant permission for commercial or public telecommunications services.

The PTA emphasized that this restriction aligns with the Telecom Policy 2015, which stipulates that purpose-specific licenses granted to government, semi-government, and autonomous organizations are not permitted for commercial operations. Currently, Pakistan Railways offers internet connectivity on just three to five trains through cellular mobile operators.

Internationally, train WiFi services are typically provided through terrestrial telecommunications networks, satellite connectivity, or a combination of the two. To expand WiFi services to more trains, Pakistan Railways could explore commercial agreements with licensed cellular or satellite operators, enabling the deployment of onboard WiFi networks connected to cellular or satellite backhaul, while remaining within the legally permissible framework.