Hyderabad metro users can stream movies and listen to music from two apps for free

Hyderabad metro users can now stream movies and shows and listen to music from two apps without exhausting their data. Presently, the service provided by the Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited is being made available at nine stations--Ameerpet, JNTU, Begumpet, Nagole, Uppal, Miyapur, KPHB, Kukatpally and Secunderabad East, and the users can access Zee5 or FreePlay app both on android and iOS. While Zee5 has a collection of movies and shows, Freeplay is a music app. The venture in partnership with SugarBox networks was launched by HMRL Managing Director NVS Reddy on Tuesday. Reddy said that all the metros have been equipped with wifi, along with some zones in the nine stations, which would be expanded later. SugarBox Network, an arm of Zee Entertainment, is a local Wi-Fi network that eliminates the users' dependence on mobile data and provides them an uninterrupted access to apps, without any data charges. According to reports, the introductory offer of free access is for 60 days. After this period, passengers can buy premium packages, while some content will remain free. Speaking about the initiative, NVS Reddy was quoted by The Times of India as saying, “Commuters generally spend about 35 to 40 minutes on trains and this and this service provides them entertainment.” According to Rohit Paranjpe, CEO of SugarBox Networks, the free wifi  allows internet users to download an entire movie in three minutes. Rohit was quoted as saying by The Hans India, “SugarBox's goal is to empower consumers with seamless access to everything that they may need: OTT, Music, Gaming, Shopping, E-learning, Food delivery, Hyperlocal services and more, even in places with bad or no network and even for users without an active data plan. We are starting with Zee5 and will have more Apps across categories on the platform soon.” Besides regular entertainment, NVS Reddy also wanted SugarBox networks to extend education, knowledge-related movies and videos, e-learning, shopping, food delivery, last mile connectivity cab booking etc. Meanwhile, L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Limited Chief Operating Officer Anil Kumar Saini announced that a new app-based and QR code-enabled ticketing system would be launched before January.