BIBO Next project to test automated public transport ticketing in Czech Republic and Germany

The BIBO Next project is set to test a new generation of automated public transport ticketing technology between September 2026 and August 2028. The initiative is a collaboration between the Swiss company FAIRTIQ, the German Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (RMV), and the Integrated Transport of the Zlín Region (IDZK) in the Czech Republic.

The Be-In/Be-Out (BIBO) technology aims to eliminate the need for passengers to actively check in or out using smartphones or physical readers. Instead, the system automatically detects a passenger's journey and calculates the appropriate fare. A key technical goal of the project is to develop a solution that functions without the need for specialized beacons installed in vehicles, which could facilitate easier expansion to other transport systems.

Testing will occur in two distinct environments to compare performance across different network structures: the metropolitan and suburban areas of Frankfurt, Germany, and the regional, more rural transport networks of the Zlín Region in the Czech Republic. Beyond technical validation, the project will study passenger trust, privacy concerns, and accessibility to prepare the technology for commercial use across Europe.