tpg ends wifi service on board
In 2017, Geneva public transport equipped about 10% of its vehicle fleet with internet connection via wifi, "tpg-freeWiFi". After meeting positive responses in 2017 and 2018, we have seen a continued decline in use since mid-2019, with a -30% drop in the first quarter of 2020.
The initial goal of free Internet access was to encourage the use of public transport and to attract new clients. We have not seen any correlation between implementing this service and ridership on the lines concerned. As a result, discontinuing this service will not impact our overall ridership. In fact, only 0.5% of all passengers on our lines use the free wifi during their travels, most having opted for data packages with a Swiss telecoms operator. Furthermore, the rate of use of free access wifi is at 5% on the lines concerned.
As providing wifi terminals in vehicles generates significant operating costs, tpg had first decided to limit the installation of free access wifi to about fifty buses. Private financing solutions have been sought, particularly from certain operators, in order to continue this system, without success. As a result, the limited results of this measure did not justify continuing it and so tpg has decided to suspend this service.
The equipment in the vehicles is currently being dismantled, an operation that will last until December 31, 2020. The equipment will be reallocated for a different use (mobile router of vehicles).
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