Be-Mobile

Be-Mobile, headquartered in Ghent, Belgium, operates as a key player in the smart mobility sector. The company was established in 2006 as a joint venture between Proximus and the Flemish investment company LRM. Its foundation stemmed from a traffic information project at the University of Ghent, initiated by its founder, Jan Cools, who holds a PhD in electrical engineering and served as CEO until 2021. Proximus, a major Belgian telecommunications company, acquired full ownership of Be-Mobile in 2016, integrating it into its enterprise business unit.

The firm specializes in developing technological solutions for traffic monitoring, connected vehicle services, and mobility payments. Its business model revolves around collecting and analyzing vast amounts of data from connected vehicles, road infrastructure sensors, and mobile devices to provide real-time traffic insights. This data is processed through its big data platform, which then disseminates actionable traffic information. This information is delivered to various endpoints, including dynamic road signs, in-car navigation systems, and smartphone applications, with the goal of optimizing traffic flow and improving daily commutes.

Be-Mobile serves a diverse client base that includes public authorities, road operators, and private enterprises. For public entities, it offers traffic management systems that help alleviate congestion and enhance road safety. For corporate clients, the company provides solutions like C-ITS (Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems) which enable communication between vehicles and infrastructure. A significant part of its revenue is also generated through mobile payment and tolling services. For instance, its 4411 application facilitates payments for parking and public transport ticketing, while it also manages toll collection systems, such as the satellite-based tolling for heavy goods vehicles in Belgium.

Keywords: smart mobility, traffic management, connected vehicles, mobility-as-a-service, C-ITS, traffic data, mobile payments, toll collection, fleet management, road safety