The adoption of sustainable modes of mobility will be a key to achieving Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and net zero targets. In this context, Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) models that integrate multiple types of mobility services like public transit, ridesharing or micro-mobility solutions, through an integrated platform are slowly gaining prominence. MaaS enables users to plan, book, and pay for transport services and is a powerful climate tech enabler, operating at the intersection of digital innovation, accessibility and development. It brings an integrated solution in the hands of users through mobile phones. Among many building blocks required for this comprehensive solution, mobile operators can play an important role as an enabler of the MaaS ecosystem by providing connectivity, data and payment integration.
The expected, yet overlooked rise of transport related emissions
Transport emissions already account for one-fifth of global emissions, and with rapid development, the demand for transport is projected to grow significantly, posing a challenge for climate action. Road travel alone contributes to 70-75% of global transport emissions, dominated by passenger vehicles like cars and buses (45% of road travel). By 2070, a 60% increase in car ownership rates and a three-fold increase in demand for passenger and freight is expected worldwide which can further aggravate the challenge.
Many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are undergoing rapid urbanisation and the associated increases in demand for mobility, straining existing municipal infrastructure and services. As public transport infrastructure often can’t keep up with rapid urban growth, cars, motorbikes, three-wheelers become a default setting leading to greater congestion, longer commutes and more air pollution with long term health impacts. With weak emission standards, older, inefficient vehicles and limited access to cleaner technologies, LMICs witness higher emissions per vehicle.
Decarbonising urban transport in LMICs is critical because cities in these regions are projected to account for 90% of global urban population growth by 2050, and transport emissions there are rising fastest. Shifting to public transit, active mobility, and clean vehicles could cut urban transport emissions in LMICs by 40–70% by 2050 while improving air quality, which currently causes estimated 4.2 million premature deaths annually. Given their growth trajectory, reducing LMIC emissions is also critical for the world to meet the Paris Agreement’s transport-sector targets.
For instance, Indian cities are projected to double the number of people by 2050, that is 400 million additional people in living in urban areas. Road transport is estimated to account for 20-30% of urban air pollution in Indian cities, which are projected to double emissions by 2050. Kenya currently has an urban population of 17 million and transport contributes 13% of countries total GHG emissions. With projections of 50% of Kenyans living in urban areas by 2050, the country is looking at a 15 times increase in car travel and around 5 times increase of emissions. Indonesia has over 50 % population in urban areas, and 220 million more people are expected to be added to cities by 2045. Transport emissions currently account for 22% of the country’s total emissions.
Moreover, many LMICs are bidding to host international events like Olympic Games, UN CoPs, and music festivals due to increasing demand locally but also for global visibility and nation-building. The global events industry was valued at $736.8 billion in 2021, projected to reach $2.5 trillion by 2035 and inIndia alone,the live entertainment market is projected to reach $1.7 billion by 2026, driven by demand across metro and non-metro cities and increases in income. These events create jobs and lead to short term economic growth for the country, yet their long-term success depends on how well the countries plan transport infrastructure leading to increased accessibility.
Studies have estimated the contribution of long-distance and local travel to major events to be as high as 85% of the total emissions of the event, with individual car journeys and flights contributing the bulk of the industry’s carbon footprint. In LMICs, the challenge is aggravated due to reliance on road-based transport, fragmentation and informal transits and rapid urbanisation that outpaces infrastructure. However, if treated as an opportunity, hosting major events can be a catalyst for better transport planning that reduces emissions and enhances mobility, attracts further investments and tourism from a global audience.
How can MaaS be a lever for climate resilience and low-carbon futures?
Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) can cut urban transport emissions by shifting trips from private, high-emission vehicles to shared, efficient modes such as buses, minibuses, and ride-pooling. Digital platforms optimise route planning and vehicle utilisation, reducing empty trips and congestion, both major contributors to COâ‚‚ output. Integrating electric or low-emission vehicles into MaaS fleets can accelerate clean transport adoption without requiring every household to purchase one. MaaS also improves first- and last-mile connectivity, making public transport more accessible. By integrating data, payments and identity across multiple modes in one system, MaaS can deliver significant emissions savings while improving affordability and convenience for growing urban populations.
Multi-fold Benefits:
- Customisation: Enable behaviour change by delivering what customers need to travel in a convenient way at a reasonable cost.
- Convenience: Providing one stop shop to empower users to access the most optimal mode(s) of travel on a trip-by-trip basis.
- Resource Optimisation: Optimise transportation efficiency by optimising routes, encouraging carpooling, maximising vehicle occupancy and reducing the number of individual trips.
- Real time data: Data based decision making for policymakers to enable new efficient, demand-responsive infrastructure development and to optimise existing infrastructure.
- Public private partnership: Potential to maintain the right balance between private sector innovation and public governance.
High-income countries like Japan, Singapore, and Germany are piloting MaaS platforms to learn and develop better on-demand services and providing rewards to the traveller for choosing greener travel methods. A good example would beJelbi, a public-private MaaS platform that has been operating in Berlin since 2019 and now integrates 90% of Berlin’s shared mobility offerings spanning public transport, ridesharing, car, bike and scooter sharing. Solving the challenge of switching between different apps, the platform not only features multi-modal journey planning, personalisation filters, and ticketing, but also driver-license verification and mobility hubs for different transport modes. Without heavy promotion, it has recorded 885000 downloads in 5 years and 81% of integrated vehicles are emission free.
The urgency of making effective multi-modal transport services accessible is clear in LMICs especially in fast-growing cities, where people commute long distances to access work and other services. This has sparked innovation to integrate transport planning with smart technology, ensuring mobility systems that can scale sustainably as demand grows. For instance, BasiGo in Kenya, leases electric buses to local matatu operators through a pay‑as‑you‑drive model and supports local assembly and charging infrastructure. BuuPass, based out of Kenya, offers an integrated B2B2C mobility booking platform for buses, trains, and flights, with services across the country as well as in South Africa, Nigeria, Malawi, Uganda and Tanzania. In India, Olaprovides four, three and two- wheeler ride-hailing options and shuttl provides bus shuttle options. While these are looking at a specific segment of the market, there’s a potential to integrate multiple modes in the future as consumers are increasing seeking greener and smarter mobility options.
Jakarta’s JakLingko has offered a capped price for using two or more listed transport modes making multi-modal trips cheaper for the city’s 11 million inhabitants. Currently, it collaborates with close to 500 transport operators on more than 100 routes integrating large, medium and small buses, rail-based transportation, and motorcycle taxis. Its aim is to provide a seamless experience by ensuring payment integration, and accessibility. However, user adoption has taken time due to fragmented public transport systems, information complexity and communication gaps, among others, and the app has only seen 100,000 downloads.
Fully integrated MaaS systems are rare but building blocks can provide data for policy decisions and encourage behaviour change. Entrants into this sector are still struggling to identify product market fit and have to navigate challenges such as limited smartphone access, and lack of financial inclusion across LMICs.
Building blocks: Digital Public Infrastructure and Mobile operators
For MaaS to function efficiently and inclusively, it requires interoperable digital systems for data exchange, payments and identity. Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) provides the foundational, often open-source, digital systems that includes digital identity, digital payments and digital exchange. DPI is instrumental in sharing real-time data and integrating various private and public transport services, creating a seamless user experience.
Namma Yatri, uses the Beckn Protocol, that provides open network mobility application for multi-modal services to the commuters. Built on DPI, it connects passengers to drivers reducing customer costs and increasing drivers’ income. It has reportedly generated $85 million in commission free income for drivers and has a user base of 7 million with 400,000 drivers onboarded. India’s DPI layers (digital identity, payments and exchange) establish the “digital code/spaces” (virtual spaces where journey planning, payments and operator coordination happen in real time) that enable MaaS to function and facilitates the collaboration between public authorities and private transport operators. Just as physical infrastructure supports physical mobility, DPI is the essential digital infrastructure for a digital transport ecosystem. Even though, India is leading in DPI, elements of it exists in many countries and the heterogeneity of implementation reveals just how much scope there is for experimentation and context-specific innovation. Additionally, while there may be lag in the deployment of the digital and financial technologies that underpin MaaS and DPI in some LMICs, its implementation could leverage innovations such as mobile technology, mobile-based micropayments, and super apps to help expand access. At the same time, pay-as-you-go solutions enabled via mobile money and GPS based tracking can ensure inclusion and accessibility for the low-income populations. For example, in India, to ensure the inclusion of private rickshaw operators (three-wheeler), a smartphone-based GPS tracker was utilised instead of more expensive automatic vehicle location equipment in the integrated transportation system of Kochi One.
Unlocking scale: ecosystem enablers
- Open Data Platforms and interoperability: adoption of common standards and seamless integration of public transit schedules, parking occupancy, micro‑mobility services, others, are critical to the success and to ensure aggregated options and personalised itineraries.
- Accessibilities and inclusivity: integration of multi-lingual support, mobile payments, loyalty programs, carbon credits, other subsidies will ensure reach to populations who may lack smartphones, bank account, language barriers, etc.
- IoT sensors embedded in streetlights for instance, can provide real-time traffic and infrastructure monitoring. Blockchain based trackers embedded in the platforms can provide secure records on carbon emissions of the journey undertaken and incentives like carbon credits.
- Policy governance: proactive policies and engagement with other stakeholders is required to ensure privacy, fair pricing mechanisms, and data governance. Public-private partnerships are required for responsible innovation and inclusive accessibility.
Mobile operators are critical to MaaS enablement in LMICs. Given that no one size fits all MaaS schemes, GSMA encourages multi-stakeholder collaboration between telcos, city planners, climate innovators, and mobility providers, in building efficient transportation system especially in low- and middle-income countries.
The Digital Utilities Programme is currently funded by UK International Development from the UK Government and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), and is supported by the GSMA and its members.
