Icomera report measures return of ridership through Wi-Fi usage

Icomera Passenger Wi-Fi usage levels from 30,000-plus trains, trams, buses, and coaches across Europe and North America have been combined to measure public transport’s rate of recovery as COVID-19 restrictions are eased.

As expected, all regions saw a dramatic drop-off in weekly passenger Wi-Fi usage through March — tracked as a percentage of usage levels in the corresponding weeks in 2019 — reaching their respective low points between late March and late April. While all regions have clearly felt the impact, the session volume data illustrates that some fell further than others, and the subsequent recovery rates do vary.

In Eastern Europe, Passenger Wi-Fi usage has currently made a plus-54 percentage point recovery from its lowest point (4%), to now sit at 58% of its 2019 levels.

• Western Europe has made an 30 percentage points recovery to 43%.
• Northern Europe (excluding the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland) is up 14 percentage points to 28%.
• North America is up 12 percentage points to 18%.
• The UK and the Republic of Ireland are up 5 percentage points to 12%.
• Southern Europe is up 9 percentage points to 11%.

Eastern Europe has experienced a positive step change in recent weeks, with many restrictions in the region being lifted during the weeks of May 25 and June 1. Western Europe is also showing a gradual recovery from a comparatively less impacted position.

Some regions are only now seeing the passenger Wi-Fi usage levels that Northern and Western Europe saw at their lowest points. The UK and Ireland are experiencing the slowest return, while Southern Europe is still feeling the after-effects of the toughest lockdowns and is climbing back from the heaviest reduction in passenger Wi-Fi usage.

Originally posted on Metro Magazine