Gautrain commuters who were promised two years ago that they would have quality cellphone and internet connectivity on the 80km rail system will have to lower their expectations considerably.
At the time, Gauteng transport MEC Ismail Vadi said there would be a three-phase roll-out plan.
The first phase included the availability of voice communications services at all underground stations by June last year.
The second phase was to allow for cellphone coverage in the 15km tunnel section, which was expected to be completed by December last year.
The third phase was "top quality voice and data connectivity throughout the 80km Gautrain rail system, which all parties will attempt to have completed by July 2014".
None of the targets has been reached.
But Eben Albertyn, chief technology officer at MTN, said there had been some progress.
"A combined solution to address station, tunnel, track-side and in-coach coverage has been presented to Bombela and Gautrain executives for high-level approval in order to begin technical evaluation.
"Bombela is yet to indicate to MTN where it should place the base station equipment."
Albertyn added: "The provision of a Wi-Fi service to Gautrain commuters is also under review. The year-end target to improve the coverage is unlikely to be met."
Gautrain spokesman Ingrid Jensen said yesterday : "There will be no Wi-Fi available on the Gautrain system.
"Cellphone connectivity will be available at underground stations but not in tunnels."
She added that a service provider had already been appointed "to do the installation which is in process". But no date for its launch had been finalised.
According to figures from April, the Gautrain is transporting almost 12million commuters a year. Gautrain buses carry about 613000 people a month.
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