Free Wi-Fi in the Paris Metro by 2024

On June 27, 2023, the Société du Grand Paris announced that it has chosen Hub One for the installation of an innovative WiFi and Internet of Things (IoT) network across the stations and trains of the Grand Paris Express, marking a historic turning point in the digitalization of public transport in the French capital.

Wi-Fi is coming: Improved connectivity in the Paris Metro

Since June 2020, RATP had already distinguished itself by covering its entire underground transport network with 4G technology. This allowed public transport users, including those on the Transilien, RER, and metro, to access mobile internet through their 3G, 4G, or 5G plans. However, without such a plan, internet access remained impossible.

2024 will mark a new milestone with the introduction of free WiFi in public transport. Notably, Line 14, which is currently being extended to Orly Airport, and Line 15, which is part of the Grand Paris Express network, will be fully equipped with free wireless internet access.

Long-term Ambitions in Paris

By 2030, the Grand Paris Express plans to inaugurate 200 kilometers of new lines, including 65 stations and 170 trains that will be put into service on Lines 15, 16, 17, and 18. These infrastructures will all be equipped with free WiFi from the outset. In addition, they will be ready to accommodate 5G technology, starting with the inauguration of Line 15 South.

The Pivotal Role: Hub One

With a budget exceeding 10 million euros, Hub One takes on a technically challenging and ambitious task. Guillaume de Lavallade, CEO of Hub One, expressed pride in his company’s contribution to this transformative project. Hub One, with its experience in deploying WiFi access points at Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle and Orly airports, will face technical constraints in installing thousands of access points, especially in narrow train carriages where some WiFi installations will be located outside the passenger compartments.

Partnership with Banque des Territoires

Furthermore, Banque des Territoires, as a minority shareholder in the future project company, is partnering with Hub One for a 14-year concession. Richard Curnier, Regional Director of Île-de-France at Banque des Territoires, emphasized that this network will not only serve as a digital showcase for travelers of the Grand Paris Express but will also lay the foundation for the development of new applications in the served territories.

The collaboration between the Société du Grand Paris, Hub One, and Banque des Territoires promises to redefine the travel experience in the Paris Metro.