Gautrain, the rapid rail network in Gauteng, says it aims to launch a Wi-Fi service before the end of the year.<\/p>\n
It follows the news that Telkom, in partnership with the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco), is set to launch free Wi-Fi connections at taxi ranks and in mini bus taxis as early as this week.<\/p>\n
Metrorail in the Western Cape is also due to begin rolling out a free Wi-Fi internet service at train stations – and plans are also afoot to offer Wi-Fi on carriages too.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for the Gautrain Management Agency told BusinessTech that it has been working on a Wi-Fi service for some time, and plans to make an announcement before the end of the year.<\/span><\/p>\n The spokesperson said that the group is also on track to have mobile phone signal at all subterranean Gautrain stations.<\/p>\n An agreement was signed with all mobile service providers to enable comprehensive services to Gautrain passengers by July 2014, Beeld reported in late 2012.<\/p>\n Ismael Vadi, Gauteng transport MEC, said cellphone reception would be phased in gradually, in three steps.<\/p>\n Step one would be enabling voice communication at all stations by June 2013.<\/p>\n Phase two would be reception in the tunnel by December 2013, while reception on the whole route would be up and running by July 2014.<\/p>\n The Gautrain spokesperson said that the company has been in discussion with mobile service providers for some time, and it expects to make an announcement in the next month.<\/p>\n Gautrain to get mobile signal<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Free WiFi for SA taxis<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n WiFi on South African train carriages<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nMore on WiFi<\/h3>\n