AIR to use WorldSpace platform to go live on trains

Live news on Indian trains is closer to reality now. Railway Board has given its in-principle go-ahead to All India Radio (AIR) to implement its dream project, AIR is in the process of checking out its service on some select trains through the satellite pl

by exchange4media Staff
Published: Jun 13, 2002 7:52 AM | 1 min read

AIR to use WorldSpace platform to go live on trains

Live news on Indian trains is closer to reality now. Railway Board has given its in-principle go-ahead to All India Radio (AIR) to implement its dream project, AIR is in the process of checking out its service on some select trains through the satellite platform of WorldSpace.

The Railway Board, with which AIR was in negotiations to start its service on some trains, has informally approved the project. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) is yet to be signed. Recently, AIR had conducted an experiment on the Delhi-Mumbai Shatabdi to see how the system would work. AIR and the Railway Board will hold another round of talks after the June 18 run to finalise the modalities of the new service.

According to sources, Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains have PA (public address) systems, which is necessary to implement the AIR-WorldSpace project. All that one needs to do on these trains is to connect the WorldSpace receiver to the PA system.

However, there’s a catch. WorldSpace has a lot more exciting channels, besides AIR; one can just tune into any jazz, pop, classical or any other news channels. But AIR is confident of finding a way by which thousands of passengers on these trains get only AIR and no other service.

Source: Financial Express