After 3G shutdown: Rental bikes in Bern are no longer running smoothly
In Switzerland, Swisscom's 3G network has been shut down since the turn of the year. A bike-sharing provider had hoped in vain that this would be delayed.
The shutdown of Swisscom's 3G network has paralyzed parts of the fleet of a bike-sharing provider in the capital city of Bern. Swisscom is therefore reactivating the network.
(Image: Publibike)
In the Swiss capital of Bern, a provider of rental bikes was caught off guard by the shutdown of Swisscom's 3G mobile network. Since Wednesday, part of the fleet has no longer been available for rent. Adding to the confusion, customers need a new app for more modern bikes that work without 3G. However, Swisscom has assured the provider Publibike that the network is to be reactivated for the time being.
As the "Berner Zeitung" reports, Publibike apparently speculated that Swisscom would take more time for the gradual shutdown. In the meantime, old bikes were to be replaced by new ones and customers switched to the new app. The main problem is apparently the bike lock used by the provider. This communicates via UMTS with the provider's servers. Newer bikes have a different lock that operates with newer mobile standards.
New app and only a few bikes
Publibike is asking users to switch to the new app "Publibike Velospot (Zone 1)". However, the newer bikes with round locks were partly in the minority this week. For example, at Bern station, a central transport hub, only three usable bikes were available, according to local media. Dozens no longer worked.
Swisscom had already announced the shutdown of the 3G network in March 2022. Operation was guaranteed until the end of 2025. Since the beginning of 2026, the shutdown has been gradually implemented. The mobile network operator wants to use the freed-up frequencies and antenna capacity for 4G and 5G in the future. Furthermore, the continued operation of the hardly used mobile standard caused additional electricity costs, which will be eliminated in the future.
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Provider hoped for a longer transition period
Publibike had apparently hoped to have until the end of February to complete the conversion of the bikes. Originally, according to local media, even more time was expected. In fact, a new contract with the city that came into effect at the beginning of the year even provided for an expansion of the rental bike offer. Now, the priority is to ensure that users can continue to use the bikes to the same extent as before.
(mki)
