Back

SBB FreeSurf – Free App-Based Internet Powered by Kontakt.io Beacon Pros

In 2018, SBB FreeSurf was developed as an alternative to WiFi due to high costs and a long time to market in order to meet customer demand for free internet on trains. With this project, SBB is building on the tried-and-tested mobile network strategy to offer a solution that is highly stable and free of charge, in contrast to services offered by railways elsewhere.

The solution is based on BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) beacon technology and a mobile app. About 2,500 long-distance vehicles are equipped with Beacon Pros from Kontakt.io to support it. 

Thanks to the two to five beacons installed in each coach, passenger mobile phones can be localized. The duration of time that the customer surfs the internet is recorded by means of an app that communicates with the Beacon Pro via Bluetooth. SBB will then bear the costs of the data volume for this time period. Customers from five Swiss mobile network providers can benefit from the solution, which provides coverage for over 90% of the mobile network market in Switzerland. Given its novelty, SBB has initiated a patent application for the project.

Thanks to beacon technology, additional customer services can be launched, providing added value for passengers and enabling SBB to optimise quality on several levels.

Contact us to discuss the possibilities with BLE Beacons now

Company info

SBB
Bern, Switzerland

Use cases

  • Proximity Marketing

Tools used

Want to succeed with Kontakt.io?

Get started with beacons!
Start Now

Check out other great stories

Macro environment of Workplace Safety Ensuring workplace safety has become a priority as more employers recognize the importance of well-being among employees. Both statistics and anecdotal evidence suggest that incidents of workplace violence are on the rise, particular in certain industries like healthcare, and mitigating its effects has taken center stage.  The numbers speak for […]
Read more
Riverside Healthcare is a fully integrated healthcare system serving the needs of patients throughout the counties of Kankakee, Iroquois, Will, Grundy, and beyond. As part of the system, Riverside Medical Center, a 300-bed hospital, provides a full scope of inpatient and outpatient care and is a nationally recognized, award-winning Level II Trauma hospital with nationally […]
Read more
1 2 3 12