PRESS RELEASE 
Statement concerning the latest decision on WiFi hotspots by the European Court of Justice (C‑484/14)

- ECJ’s judgement concerning WiFi hotspots intensifies the requirements regarding the operation of WiFi hotspots
- Network access in return for the disclosure of clients’ identities is a technical obstacle 
- Future requirements for WiFi operators imposed by European legislation contradict the declared intention to ensure free Internet access throughout the European Union until the year 2020

Heuchelheim, 16.09.2016 – “The disclosure of the client’s identity before the use of a WiFi network is the highest possible hurdle regarding free access to the Internet“, Florian Kempff, CEO of IPmotion GmbH criticizes.

The Hessian company has provided the access points within 2200 Swiss PostBus long distance coaches since 2011. Together with wlan-partner.com AG, IPmotion developed a technology that grants public WiFi access in the most important part of Switzerland’s public transportation network. More than 140 million passengers per year enjoy their free Internet access on the iconic yellow coaches with their distinctive three-note horn call.

But Swiss customers merely require the disclosure of a cell phone number for users need to be available via SMS to log in. A disclosure of the client’s identity as requested by the European Court of Justice‘s latest decision is not necessary. And even that procedure is not an undisputed one within the Alpine country as the content is being surveilled, filtered and registered. This is necessary because the PostBus Switzerland AG is legally obliged do so as a reporting telecommunications service provider. 

The person using the phone with corresponding number will only be investigated in case Swiss authorities require that via court order. But whether the person using the given number can actually be found is uncertain for there are millions of unregistered SIM cards in use throughout Europe and the WiFi on Swiss PostBus coaches can be accessed by anyone who has received a code via SMS and entered it in a confirmation page.
 
Even if it were technically possible to doubtlessly identify a cell phone user before the use of an Internet access point, this would pose an attack on the right of free speech, the freedom of information and the participation in public and economic life of the 21st century.

“This decision expresses a general distrust of the citizens of Europe and it threatens to blight the express political will of the European Union to facilitate the access to information and enhance the possibility of each citizen of the European Union to have their voice heard.“, Kempff adds hortatively. 

Publication free of charge, specimen copy requested, Pictures and other press 
material can be found under www.ipmotion.de/en/news/press-materials/ 

The IPmotion GmbH
Founded in 1999, IPmotion resides in the Hessian town of Heuchelheim since 2009. The company is the world’s leading provider of high availability mobile routers. The deployment of fast and secure internet connections in all classes of vehicles (automotive, maritime and railway) is the company’s main objective. 

IPmotion’s CAR-A-WAN router technology
The CAR-A-WAN router technology debuted in 2003 and has since been offering a stable and fast internet access point in commercial vehicles, trains, trams, buses and ships. Hardware and software have been continuously improved to fit customer needs and guarantee client satisfaction. The CAR-A-WAN router technology offers a multiple bandwidth in contrast to all other system solutions and can be enhanced with the installing of further applications and services. 

Contact for requests: 

IPmotion GmbH 
MJur Florian Kempff
Managing partner 
Tel.: +49-641-350999-0
Ludwig-Rinn-Str. 8-16
35452 Heuchelheim
E-Mail: info@IPmotion.de
www.IPmotion.de