Mobile network operator data as a new source for transport planning and mobility analyses

In the fields of mobility research and infrastructure planning, there is an increasing demand for timely and small-scale information that usually cannot be met by official statistics. Mobile network operator data, which can be applied to describe the mobility and whereabouts of populations, is considered a promising approach. The aggregated and anonymized mobile network operator data that statistical offices typically can gain access to are biased and therefore do not meet quality standards of official statistics yet. Previous research of the Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis) and others have shown that current methods for bias correction of mobile network operator data still suffer from a lack of additional information and pose methodological challenges. This refers especially to the need for better information on the socio-demographic background of mobile phone users and market shares of mobile network operators. Building on the work of previous years and in particular the research project “VerBindungen” (engl.: ConNections), the current research project “New Data for Mobility Analyses” (NeDaMo) aims to provide the missing information for an improved bias correction of mobile network operator data. NeDaMo will achieve this by collecting data on socio-demographic, regional and household-related differences in mobile phone usage and mobility, deploying a large-scale online-survey in two major regions of Germany. The survey is conducted in accordance with §7 of the German Federal Statistics Act, which permits surveys on a voluntary basis for the purpose of clarifying scientific methods. In addition, mobile network operator data from two mobile network operators involved in the project will be used and analyzed which is a new approach for Germany. The Federal Statistical Office of Germany is leading the national research consortium of mobile network operators, public offices and universities for NeDaMo’ss duration of three years.