Here is the press release:

As part of a unique partnership with audio-visual production and event company acTVty and technology group Chronos, Orange Belgium is today launching a new mobile application that displays real-time traffic across Belgium. The operator is thus experienced in the field of enrollment of customer data across the country to create a simple and comprehensive heat map representing the density of congestion.

A few days before Christmas and New Year, many consumers still come to the shops to do their last minute shopping. But they want to get around in the safest way possible, avoiding crowds and respecting sanitary measures everywhere. Orange Belgium and its partners have responded to this urgent need by launching a free mobile application that provides traffic information across the country a few months after providing this type of information through the YouFlanders app.

Data provided by population for population

Anonymity and aggregation of the number of mobile connections to the Orange Belgian network makes it possible for all mobile users in all networks in the region to extrapolate the result and convert the result from ‘red’ to a simple color code. ‘(Very busy area) to’ Green ‘(quiet area with little activity). Like some weather applications, the analysis is performed in near real-time, as the information comes with a maximum delay of 5 minutes.

The density of an area is calculated based on the average number of mobile connections in the last 30 minutes compared to the maximum density recorded after June 2020. Also note: Because Crowdsurfer does not depend on application-generated data, the service does not require a large number of users to generate relevant data. The application also respects the privacy of its users as it only reports the number of smartphones connected in a region.

Future features to predict attendance

This version of Crowdsurfer is the first and already allows users to consult the presence of a region to safely plan their activities. The mobile app allows citizens to take control of their safety in the context of the fight against the Covid19 epidemic by preventing them from traveling in congested areas without first knowing it. In the coming months, Orange Belgium, Kronos and ACTVT intend to develop and refine solutions by offering traffic forecasts at specific times of day and collecting new data sources and new meters in cities, regions. Tourism, theme parks … to improve the nuances of forecasts.

Total respect for user privacy

The Crowdsurfer App fully complies with the rules in terms of privacy protection, as it is based on the traffic data of the Orange Belgium network. Simply put, the app does not send any information from the user. Sources intended for analysis are filtered by unknown and specific algorithms on the source to guarantee compliance with rules on the preservation of personal data at all times.

Werner de Lett, Chief Enterprise, Innovation and Wholesale Officer, Orange Belgium: “Judicious use of technology can help overcome social challenges and the Crowdsurfer app shows it perfectly. In addition to using information from our network. To avoid large gatherings, we give consumers the power to use the information they provide, while strongly committed to protecting their privacy. Furthermore, we believe that this type of tool will prove . Covid19 is useful for the fight against pandemics, but also for many other applications in the future. “

Sam Bumbst, Managing Partner of Kronos, says: “At Kronos, we are committed to always looking for opportunities to improve the daily lives of consumers. All the more and more in this unprecedented period. Significant change cannot just generate . Good ideas and intentions, which is why the technologies of our thinkers, our doers and Kronos were happy to engage with a project that would clearly contribute to a better and more secure future. “

AbTV Voucher, managing partner of ACTVT NV said: “The way we want to know the weather when we leave our home, information on population density should be part of our general knowledge of the world around us. So we want to make this knowledge accessible to all and we can achieve it, without sacrificing any personal freedom or privacy, thanks to the collaboration with Orange Belgium.