Digital city information displays complement the municipal information system in Frankfurt

The City of Frankfurt is testing “digital city information displays” at three locations in the city in a joint pilot project with Ströer. The displays are the first of their kind above ground in public spaces in the metropolitan region. Among other things, they broadcast local and regional topics such as city news, relevant service information on events, content from sections such as “interesting facts”, “sustainability”, and weather, and serve as an official disseminator for warning messages. Information can be delivered quickly to many people in real-time – which is particularly crucial for city notices or warnings that affect all citizens. The digital city information displays and the associated content and services will be free of charge to the city. The “Host City Communication Center” of the City of Frankfurt already used the stand information systems during the European Football Championship in cooperation with the fire department to provide visitors with up-to-date information. 

So far, digital city information displays in Frankfurt can only be found on the underground and S-Bahn tracks at the Hauptwache and Konstablerwache stations, at the main and regional railway stations, at the airport and at other stations in the city area and in the large shopping centres. The fire service has already been using these facilities at the central hubs in Frankfurt since 2021 to reach commuters and travellers ad hoc in the event of an emergency. The above-ground systems could supplement this network in the future and act as a new communication medium between the city and its citizens. 

Representatives from Ströer, the City of Frankfurt and the Frankfurt Fire Department presented the new communication options to the public today. 

“The city information systems we developed offer many advantages: facilitating citizen participation, promoting a sustainable communication approach and new business opportunities for cities and municipalities. In several German cities, our media are already part of an urban communication infrastructure and make it easier to reach the population. We are delighted to be able to share our many years of expertise and experience with the city of Frankfurt in this joint pilot project. With the digital city information displays, we have the opportunity to develop new interactive forms of communication jointly and thus positively revitalise the city,” says Alexander Stotz, CEO of Ströer Media Germany. 

“Direct communication with the citizens of our city is extremely important and has become even more important in recent years. Short information channels in the event of severe weather or other events are the order of the day, but positive news that makes life easier for our fellow citizens must also be available quickly. After the positive experience with the information boards in underground and suburban trains, I am very pleased that Ströer can now also provide a medium “above ground” that simplifies and speeds up communication channels,” adds Annette Rinn, Head of the Department of Public Order, Safety and Fire Protection of the City of Frankfurt am Main

In 2015, Ströer started with digitising media carriers on the street. Three years later, Ströer was honoured with the Smavard Award in the “Public Services” category at the Smart City conference Nordic Edge Expo in Stavanger for the development of its digital city information displays. Ströer has also been listed as an official warning disseminator since 2018, and the digital media carriers are connected to the satellite-based Modular Warning System (MoWaS) to inform the population in the event of environmental disasters, weather conditions, major fires, etc.

Ströer currently operates digital city information displays in around 180 cities across Germany. In addition to advertising, the digital systems also show the latest local news, which informs citizens on a daily basis, as well as an increasing number of 360-degree campaigns on socially relevant and sustainable topics. The digital screens are available to cities for event-related mobility and safety communication. Partners such as NGOs or players in the next generation have the opportunity to use the city’s media reach for information displays pro bono.  The screens provide an additional stage for the art and culture scene, for example in Hamburg.