Mobile Technology: How It Has Revolutionized Global Travel in 20 Years

Beijing railway station

In July 1997, Dave Ashton, then an analyst at Accenture, was dispatched to Beijing to support China Telecom’s mobile unit IPO. The assignment required detailed analysis of global mobile penetration rates, a task that would prove both challenging and illuminating.

My responsibilities involved contacting ministries and telecommunications agencies in the world’s leading economies to collect historical and projected mobile‑phone penetration data. The office we worked out of had no landlines—an irony, given our client’s industry—so we purchased three Nokia bricks to conduct the research.

Each call cost nearly £3 (€3.40) per minute, and I often had to step outside the hotel window to capture a signal that would drop every other second. After weeks of data collection, we projected that China’s mobile penetration would rise to roughly 6% by 2005—a figure that turned out to be six times higher than our estimate.

At the time, I was skeptical. I told my wife that cellular technology was expensive and unlikely to reach the mass market, a sentiment reflected in the $2,800 (≈€2,371) bill we received for the project’s communications. In hindsight, that period marked a turning point for travel, driven by the convergence of mobile data, devices, apps and GPS.

Mobile data: Enabling travellers to stay connected

In 2017, a data revolution transformed cross‑border travel in Europe. Prior to the abolition of roaming charges, travellers leaving France had to disable roaming to avoid exorbitant fees—an inconvenience that disrupted everything from hotel booking to real‑time navigation.

The removal of roaming fees in May 2017 meant that travellers could use mobile data across the EU without incurring additional costs. This simple policy shift unlocked a suite of travel‑centric apps—Airbnb, Uber, Loco2, and Google Maps—that are now integral to the travel experience.

Business travellers, in particular, benefit from constant connectivity, using free video‑call platforms such as WhatsApp or Skype to maintain communication across borders. Mobile data has become essential for living and working while on the move.

Real‑time mobile data: Enhancing the travel experience

Over the past two decades, mobile data quality and availability have improved in tandem with decreasing costs. With data effectively free in Europe, real‑time travel services—such as push notifications for platform changes, live customer support, and seat‑availability alerts—have become more sophisticated and responsive.

Some concrete examples include:

• Push alerts for train platform changes or delays, eliminating the need to consult separate apps.
• In‑app live support, removing the requirement for phone calls or emails.
• Real‑time seat‑availability information that maximizes the likelihood of securing a spot.

Technology in travel: Championing consumers

Gone are the days when travellers had to print tickets, boarding passes or hotel receipts. Digitalisation and mobile devices now provide e‑tickets, online bookings and mobile check‑in, saving time—and often money.

Rapid technological advances give consumers unprecedented choice in speed, price, comfort and safety. Apps like Loco2 enable cross‑border train tickets in a single transaction, while car‑sharing platforms mitigate costly taxi fares. Electronic payments via Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Wallet enhance security and convenience, and neobanks such as N26 offer foreign‑exchange rates with zero fees.

Cashless travel reduces the need to carry large sums of money, decreases queue times, and mitigates theft risks. Once integrated, electronic payment systems shield travellers from debit‑card fraud and identity theft, creating a safer, smoother journey.

Travelling to Beijing in 2018 versus 1997

After a 20‑year hiatus, I returned to Beijing with my 15‑year‑old son, armed with the full spectrum of mobile tools that had become indispensable for travel. I booked trains and hotels via Ctrip, mapped subway routes with Google Maps, arranged car rides with Didi, paid for bike and bus fares through Alipay, and secured a local guide in Guilin—all from my smartphone. Video calls to my wife via WhatsApp were as frequent as I liked.

Despite the extensive use of services, the total cost of accessing them was approximately £20, a stark contrast to the $2,800 bill of 1997. A small price for a world of convenience—minus the donkey and rat.

The author of this blog is Dave Ashton, CEO of Loco2, a booking platform for train tickets in the UK and Europe.

About the author:

Dave joined Loco2 in July 2017, recruited for his expertise in travel and technology and fluency in both English and French. As CEO, he focuses on aligning team strengths to expand the business, enhance accessibility, and convert challenges into opportunities. His leadership prioritises delivery, growth strategy and investor relations.