Mobile technology, partner in optimum, safe public transport
Brussels, 7 June 2007 - Mobistar has been SNCB's partner in mobile technology for 3 years. Today, Mobistar and SNCB confirm a successful partnership by extending the contract for another 3 years. Using the mobile technology, SNCB is able to develop applications for passenger and goods traffic, which will further enhance the safety and quality of the service. Mobistar confirms herewith its trend-setting position in the professional market.
Mobistar has just signed a new contract with SNCB for a period of three years. The contract covers both cards for mobile voice and data traffic, and fixed telephone applications and leased lines for data traffic. The total number of SIM cards activated for SNCB is 19,500. Mobistar supports a number of specific SNCB applications, thus showing that it is playing a strategically important part in the expansion of mobile applications in a variety of sectors. In public transport, technology is responsible for optimising safety, punctuality and passenger information. Not only customers but also train drivers and conductors use applications based on mobile technology.
Mobile technology implies customers being able to perform a number of transactions by wireless means. The most obvious and striking of these applications are IBIS, ALASCA, ATLAS and Orange World. On the one hand, they improve the management of resources at SNCB. On the other, they help provide customers with better information or to make trains run more punctually.
IBIS is the name of the portable device that all train drivers have. This portable terminal is a paperless office incorporating the latest technologies. The device cannot just print tickets, but timetables as well. The conductor can consult timetables with it, scan the barcodes on the tickets from the Ticket Online application and use his IBIS as a mobile phone. In addition, he keeps the logbook of his work in it and uses it to contact the ALASCA module. In brief, all necessary and possible functions are available via this device. With his IBIS unit, the conductor becomes even more the ambassador for SNCB. For the customer IBIS offers the advantage that he can pay electronically on the train using a credit card.
When train drivers and conductors start work on a train, they have to register. This is a requirement because it is necessary to know at any time who is working on what train and to be able to contact the right person. To this end SNCB developed ALASCA, a Dutch acronym for General System for SMS Communication. Train drivers send a code to a server by text. Conductors do the same via their IBIS unit. Via an online interface, the control centre and the planning office for train conductors and drivers know, train-by-train, what staff are on board.
ATLAS (Advanced Traction vehicle Location and Administration System) is a GPS application that not only provides real-time monitoring of locomotives but also permits more efficient fleet management. With ATLAS it is possible to monitor extremely exactly where locomotives are, what work they are doing and what incidents they may encounter. SNCB is endeavouring to equip all motive power with ATLAS by mid-2010, so that the entire SNCB fleet (passenger and freight trains) can be monitored using this system.
For SNCB customers, Orange World offers the facility to look up timetables via a mobile phone. By specifying the departure and arrival stations, the date of the journey and the departure or arrival time, the customer automatically sees the trains that best fit his search criteria on his mobile. This service is provided free. The customer pays only for access to Orange World.
According to Marc Descheemaecker, CEO of NMBS: "The future of the company is also determined by mobile technology. Thanks to high tech applications like ATLAS, ALASCA or IBIS, we can manage our train traffic better and more accurate. The operational aspect of having 'trains going' is perfected day by day thanks to mobile technology. What's more, there are numerous benefits for travellers and clients from B-cargo. In the future, our trains will be even safer, more punctual and the clients will travel better informed."
In the last three years SNCB and Mobistar have succeeded in applying mobile technology efficiently in the public transport sector. The telecom operator has the requisite know-how to develop this growth potential further. "NMBS 'SNCB' belongs to our most important customers in the business market and as such we are very pleased that the partnership will be prolonged with three years. This gives us the opportunity to use our know-how to develop new applications concerning mobile technology and to optimize our service even further," according to Benoit Scheen, Chief Commercial Officer of Mobistar.