IM2 Provides Wi-Fi Services On Train

ON A TRAIN!

Good news for Indonesian travelers! Indosat Mega Media (IM2) recently began cooperating with PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI or Indonesian Railway Company) to provide Wi-Fi service for train passengers. For the first stage, the network coverage will be available at seven train stations and aboard 82 executive cars in Java.

Interestingly, IM2 provides two Service Set Identifiers (SSID) for the service and one of them is free of charge. If users only need internet access for browsing, they can use the IM2-KAI SSID, which is free. But the company doesn’t allow downloading and video or audio streaming through this free service. The other SSID, INDOSATNet, is a paid service which cost users Rp0.5/Mb (approximately US$0.00005/Mb) for access. IM2 considers this a premium service with download and streaming features available for users.

The Wi-Fi service is a breakthrough in Indonesian mass transportation services, and especially for trains. For the last few years, trains have lost many passengers as many people turn to cars, motorcycles and aeroplanes to travel. Both IM2 and KAI hope the service will attract people back to travel by rail. As Sulistyo Wimbo Hardjito, CCO of KAI says:

Hopefully, the service will increase KAI’s competitiveness as a public transportation service provider in the country.

Indar Atmanto, CEO of IM2 has the same expectation, saying:

We hope the service will drive people to travel by train as well as providing access for IM2 broadband customers.

For the time being, the service will be available in seven main train stations; Gambir (Jakarta), Bandung, Semarang Tawang, Yogyakarta, Solo Balapan, Surabaya Turi, and Surabaya Gubeng. Executive car passengers along the route can also enjoy the Wi-Fi service on the train.

The service is a good development for internet service in the country. We reported about how Telkomsel is ensuring its network coverage on boats earlier, which is also a great development in mobile internet service. And as internet users in Indonesia are still growing with half going online via mobile, these services will be an interesting treat for netizens.

[Lead photo source: esq-news.com and Green Eggs and Ham]