After Google, Now Indian Firm Joister Wants to Offer Free Wi-Fi at Railway Stations in Maharashtra

After launching free Wi-Fi services at about 500 locations in four major cities of Maharashtra, broadband and gaming provider Joister Infomedia has offered to provide free Wi-Fi at all railway stations in the state. Google had last year announced that it will provide free Wi-Fi access at 400 railway stations in the country, and started the rollout in January.

Joister Infomedia, which offers free Wi-Fi to about two lakh registered users in Mumbai, Pune, Thane and Navi Mumbai, has approached Central Railways and Western Railways to offer free Wi-Fi at all stations in Maharashtra.

"We appreciate the government's 'Digital India' campaign and to lend our bit of support, we have sought permissions from Central Railway and Western Railway to give free Wi-Fi facility at all railway stations of Maharashtra," said Nikunj Kampani, Chairman and Managing Director, Joister Infomedia.

"It would be really encouraging if domestic players like us are also given equal chance to partner in Digital India initiative, just as foreign companies like Google have been given," he added.

A senior railway official confirmed that this proposal has been received, but said only the Railway Board or Railway Ministry can take a call on it.

Joister Infomedia recently launched its free Wi-Fi service at Nair Hospital in Mumbai, and KEM Hospital in Mira-Bhayander

Municipal Corporation. It aims to expand its services to 30 more cities, including Solapur, Satara, Sangli, Chiplun, Nashik and Nagpur, in the next six months, Kampani said.