WhatsApp conversations, Facebook posts and YouTube videos are only a log-in away on Metro Railway platforms with a free Wi-Fi Internet service being launched at 14 stations on Wednesday.

Out of the 17 stations between Dum Dum and Tollygunge, the service could not be launched at Central, Esplanade and Rabindra Sadan because of what Metro described as technical problems. A spokesperson said the three stations would go Wi-Fi within a week.

Once that happens, Internet connection will be available at all Metro stations. Noapara and the stations south of Tollygunge are above ground and hence already under mobile data coverage.

The "4G" Wi-Fi Internet is being provided by Reliance JioNet, which has been operating hotspots at several prominent places in the city, such as Park Street and the Rashbehari crossing, for months.

Metro checked out the new service at Chandni Chowk and Park Street stations on launch day.

How to log in

• Enable Wi-Fi on your smartphone or tablet
• "JioNet" will appear as one of the available networks
• Click on JioNet and a notification will pop up asking you to "Sign into WLAN network"
• Enter your phone number
• An authentication code or a one-time password will be sent as a notification
• Enter the code or one-time password to log in

How fast

Metro needed to make multiple log-in attempts over approximately 10 minutes to connect to the JioNet network at Chandni Chowk around 4pm. Once connected, the Udta Punjab title track, which is about 6.32MB, was downloaded in less than three minutes. At Park Street, the phone connected with the JioNet network automatically and the download speed was approximately the same.

How long, how much

A Metro official said once a passenger logs into the network, the connection would remain active for the day across stations.

There is no data charge or upper limit to data consumption, she added.

But this is only during the ongoing trial run.

Asked what would happen if the service provider decided to levy charges later, the official said if such a situation arose, a decision would be taken considering all relevant factors.

Will free Internet lead to crowding on the Metro platforms with people skipping trains to browse? "A commuter has to enter the platform or the paid area within 30 minutes of buying a ticket and exit within an hour and a half. However, passengers are discouraged to spend even that much time at stations, which have CCTV cameras and are manned by guards. This is done to minimise security risks," said the official.

So a commuter can at most skip a couple of trains to enjoy free Wi-Fi.

Digital divide

Lack of awareness seemed the biggest divide between the commuter and Internet on launch day.

At Chandni Chowk, Metro spoke to six commuters, none of whom had a clue about the new facility.

Even station officials looked puzzled at the mention of Wi-Fi. "We have heard about the service but don't know anything more," said an official. A security staff member, however, said he had been accessing Internet through Wi-Fi.

At Park Street, things were different since the platforms had been made Wi-Fi-enabled a few months back as part of the trial run.

Many commuters regularly use Wi-Fi at the station. Sujoy Das, an English honours student, said he usually got decent download speed.

But even at Park Street, most Wi-Fi users were not aware that the service had been extended to 14 stations.

A bunch of undergraduate students were excited when told about the service but disappointed that Metro had not publicised it.

"People would gradually come to know about the service. We are considering using the public address systems to announce it. A call will be taken once all 17 stations are under Wi-Fi coverage," said the Metro spokesperson.