ACM launches study into the ability of new entrants to offer innovative mobility services

Services that allow travelers to plan, book, and pay for trips from doorstep to destination are marketed as a so-called MaaS-service, where MaaS stands for Mobility as a Service. MaaS-providers combine different modes of transportation (such as train, bus, metro, and public bicycles) as well as thereto-related services. Both existing public-transportation companies and new entrants develop MaaS services. New entrants are dependent on the cooperation of public-transportation companies for their own MaaS-services. On certain routes, public-transportation companies are often the only operators. For the MaaS-market to grow and evolve, it is important that all Maas-providers are able to integrate these transportation services into their offerings, allowing them to offer such services on their own digital platforms.

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) will take stock of the current situation regarding such access and integration for MaaS-providers (existing and potential ones): to what public-transportation services of other market participants do they currently have access, and under what conditions?

Sustainability and the digital economy

MaaS makes it easier for people to go to one place and create a trip combining different modes of transportation. MaaS is expected to stimulate the use of public transportation as well as, for example, the use of bike-sharing programs, and to lower people’s dependency on their own cars. In that way, MaaS contributes to sustainability.

Transportation platforms are one example of the many developments currently taking place in the digital economy. The rise and growth of online platforms, such as MaaS, offer people and businesses many benefits and opportunities. In that context, it is vital that all providers (both large and small, new and existing) get the opportunity to offer innovative mobility services to people and businesses. That is why ACM wishes to get an idea of the current situation regarding those opportunities.

Sitting down with market participants

In order to get an idea of how the MaaS-market is currently evolving, ACM will sit down with various market participants over the next few weeks and months, including public-transportation companies, MaaS-providers (existing and potential ones), knowledge institutions, and local governments. Do you have information about this subject, and would you like to help us with this study? If so, please contact us.

You can send your comments to maas [at] acm [punt] nl (maas[at]acm[dot]nl) or to:

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM)
Telecommunications, Transport and Postal Services Department (TVP)
P.O. Box 16326
2500 BH The Hague
The Netherlands