Astana, 20 October. More than 1,500 carriages of Kazakhstan's passenger trains have been fitted with Starlink satellite internet: the project covers 108 trains on 51 routes and is designed for 11 million passengers a year, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy said.
Passengers get free basic Wi-Fi only for text messages in messengers, while paid packages are available for photos, video and other internet services. Texting on the road is now free, but showing relatives the view from the window will cost money. KTZ showed how the satellite internet works while the train is moving.
In future, passengers will be able to order meals and deliveries on board, book a taxi to the station and choose entertainment content. KTZ is also developing a National Passenger Transport System that will combine data on passengers, trains, tickets, routes and services.
Starlink is the satellite communications system of Elon Musk's SpaceX: thousands of low-orbit satellites provide internet where there are no ground networks, including on moving vehicles. This matters for trains because mobile coverage often drops on long stretches between cities.
What it means: Satellite internet has appeared on KTZ trains and works even where mobile coverage drops, but only messaging is free; photos, video and the rest of the internet have to be paid for.
Who benefits: Passengers on long-distance trains gain, since they now stay connected on the road, as does KTZ, which will earn from paid packages and in future from meal and taxi orders through its own system; SpaceX gains a large corporate customer in Kazakhstan.
Background: Until now passengers have used satellite internet on trains free of charge; part of the service will now be paid.
List of sources used: Kazinform, LS, Sputnik Kazakhstan, Sputnik Kazakhstan
Artificial intelligence was used in preparing this material.
