A Collaborative & Innovative Partnership Built Over Two Years for Accessible Mobility
Launched in October 2023, the partnership between Digital Virgo and SNCF Voyageurs was initiated as a pilot program with a clear objective: support SNCF Voyageurs in offering a simple, flexible, and inclusive ticketing alternative, accessible on all mobile devices and capable of fast operational deployment. Supported by Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine, this initiative marked the first test of SMS-based ticketing on regional trains and buses in France.
The pilot program was first deployed on the Limoges–Felletin TER line and the R16 bus line, powering the first SMS-based origin-to-destination ticketing system in French regional rail. In 2024, the initiative reached a new milestone with the extension of the pilot to the Dax–Hendaye line, confirming the scalability and operational relevance of the solution.
Designed as a complementary service within SNCF’s range of mobility options, the pilot enables travelers to purchase tickets via SMS and pay securely through their mobile phone bill—without an app, bank card, or internet connection.
Building on the positive outcomes of this initial phase, Digital Virgo is delighted to continue its collaboration with SNCF Voyageurs, supported by Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine, for the next two years, with the shared ambition of advancing more inclusive and seamless mobility solutions across regional transport networks.
Powering the First SMS-Based Origin-to-Destination Ticketing System in French Regional Rail
Within the framework of this partnership, Digital Virgo and SNCF Voyageurs are powering a simple, inclusive, and secure mobile ticketing ecosystem through an innovative SMS-based origin-to-destination ticketing system. Fully dematerialized and using operator billing, the solution enables travelers on select TER and bus lines in Nouvelle-Aquitaine to purchase and pay for tickets instantly with just three SMS messages.
As a link between transport operators and telecom providers, Digital Virgo promotes accessible and inclusive mobility through the digitalization of transport tickets and seamless mobile payment via Carrier Billing. The solution is enabled by Digital Virgo’s privileged connections with innovative telecom partners, ensuring secure, reliable, and frictionless mobile payment experiences.
Key benefits of the solution include:
- An alternative and inclusive mobile payment method accessible to all
- Compatibility with any mobile phone, with no app, internet connection, or bank card required
- A simple, fast, universal, and secure purchase flow completed in just three SMS
- The ability to reach new user segments, including youth and solidarity fare travelers
- Fast, secure, flexible, and scalable deployment, achievable within weeks
- A contribution to regional innovation and digital inclusion in mobility
SMS Ticketing: Making Mobility More Inclusive, Simple, and Instant
Introduced in 2016, SMS Ticketing has established itself as a reliable alternative for issuing and paying for transport tickets. According to the latest available figures from AF2M, the solution has recorded steady annual growth of 3% and reached a market value of €42.5 million in France in 2024 (Source: AF2M – Observatoire du Paiement sur facture opérateurs 2024).
Within the pilot program conducted with SNCF Voyageurs in the Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine, SMS Ticketing has demonstrated its ability to reach new user segments, particularly younger travelers (50% of tickets sold on the SNCF TER lines concerned) and solidarity fare users, while delivering a simple and reassuring experience. By removing the need for a smartphone app, bank card, or internet connection, the solution eliminates technical and financial barriers and acts as a powerful lever for inclusion, enabling more passengers to travel independently and confidently.
User feedback collected by SNCF Voyageurs in 2024 confirms the relevance of the approach: 75% of surveyed users described the SMS Ticketing process as very easy, while 40% reported using the service more than twice a week, highlighting its suitability for everyday mobility.
For SNCF Voyageurs, this initiative aligns with a broader strategy to offer more flexible and accessible mobility options on select trains and buses. While 80% of ticket sales are already digital, additional channels such as SMS Ticketing help extend reach and complement existing sales platforms, including mobile apps, websites, and ticket counters.
Beyond enhancing the passenger experience, SMS Ticketing also delivers strategic value for transport operators, supporting service modernization while addressing the needs of a broader and more diverse audience.
🎥 Landry Barrand, Marketing and Sales Director at SNCF Voyageurs, and Leslie Huet, Product Manager at Digital Virgo, speak with Sean Kildea, Sales Director at Orange Pay Services, about the implementation, benefits, and feedback from the SMS ticketing pilot in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.
Directed by Jérôme Bouteiller – Ecran Mobile, produced by Orange Pay Services. Credits: Orange Pay Services.
DV Ticketing: A Comprehensive Mobile Ticketing Technical & Management Platform For Mobility Operators
At the core of the service lies DV Ticketing, Digital Virgo’s comprehensive mobile ticketing platform designed specifically for mobility operators. Acting as a facilitator between transport operators and telecom providers, Digital Virgo delivers an end-to-end technical and management solution connecting transport systems with telecom billing infrastructures.
Built around four key pillars — accessibility, reliability, simplicity, and speed — DV Ticketing covers the entire mobile ticketing value chain and supports fast, secure, and scalable deployments on transport networks.
DV Ticketing integrates:
- Digital ticket generation, delivering instant, fully dematerialized, and secure tickets
- Operator billing integration (Direct Carrier Billing) through secure API connections with telecom operators
- Onboard ticket validation systems, fully aligned with transport operators’ control processes
- Management and control tools, including centralized monitoring, ticket tracking, and fraud prevention features
- An end-to-end deployment ecosystem, from technical integration to operational rollout and ticket delivery
- A flexible and scalable implementation model, enabling the rollout of a regional train or bus line within just a few weeks
Drawing on Digital Virgo’s international experience in countries such as Italy and Poland, DV Ticketing illustrates how mobile payment–based ticketing solutions can support accessible, inclusive, and efficient mobility services at scale.
Shaping the Next Generation of Digital Ticketing
With the renewal of this partnership, Digital Virgo and SNCF Voyageurs, together with Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine, reaffirm their commitment to building the next generation of accessible, inclusive, and future-ready digital ticketing solutions.
The coming phases will focus on enhancing the user experience through innovations currently under development. These initiatives aim to make traveler interactions and the ticket purchase process ever more fluid, leveraging the full potential of business messaging opportunities to deliver mobility experiences that are even simpler, more intuitive, and seamless.
Together, and with the continued support of Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine and telecom partners, this collaboration illustrates how pragmatic, user-centric innovation can transform everyday mobility—opening the way for potential large-scale deployments, while making public transport simpler, more inclusive, and more accessible for all.
