Journeo Enhances UK Transport with Pelion Connectivity & Flexible Tariffs

For more than a decade, Journeo has been a driving force in the UK’s public transport sector, helping local authorities and operators deliver smarter, connected services. Behind their success is a strategic partnership with Pelion, whose ultra-reliable connectivity and flexible tariffs keep thousands of buses and IoT systems online — all day, every day.

From real-time CCTV monitoring to digital signage, from ticketing to vehicle tracking, this powerful collaboration is transforming how transport fleets operate across the UK.

The foundation of Journeo’s success

Journeo delivers innovative, integrated solutions for public transport and infrastructure clients, helping to create intelligent systems and connected passenger journeys. Since 2014, Pelion has provided more than just managed connectivity. The partnership includes:

• A self-service management portal

• Ongoing technical support

• Value-added routers with pre-integrated connectivity

This ecosystem supports thousands of connections across various Journeo customer accounts — from regional authorities to national transport operators like First Bus.

Over 13,000 devices connected — and counting

The partnership’s largest deployment is with First Bus, one of the UK’s leading bus operators, covering 40 towns and cities from Aberdeen to Cornwall. Over 4,000 CCTV-enabled buses across 50 depots are connected through the Journeo Portal, powered by Pelion.

Paul Hopkinson, Group Development Manager at Journeo, explains:

“Pelion enables all the connections across our fleet. With their connectivity solutions, we’ve enhanced efficiency and ensured constant communication — something that’s vital for the public transport systems we serve.”

A new era in fleet management

Once, retrieving CCTV footage meant manually collecting hard drives from individual buses. Journeo and Pelion modernized that, enabling remote monitoring and video downloads over the air.

Mike Sixsmith, Pelion’s Account Manager for First Bus, shares:

“Thanks to Pelion and our edge routers, everything is done remotely now — no more swapping USB sticks on every bus. This is the future of fleet management.”

Beyond CCTV, Pelion’s IoT SIMs now power next-stop signage, audio announcements, vehicle tracking, ticketing systems, and more, all updated remotely and reliably.

Flexible tariffs: the game-changer

Journeo needed connectivity that could keep up with variable data demands across thousands of IoT devices. Pelion delivered with an aggregated data pool model, a scalable solution where unused data from low-traffic SIMs offsets spikes from others.

With over 13,000 SIMs in the field, Journeo has access to 130+ terabytes of pooled data, all visible and manageable via the Pelion Portal.

Mike explains:

“The flexibility in tariffs helped us win the deal with First Bus. Pelion’s aggregated data pool allows us to offer more value while keeping costs predictable and manageable.”

Always-on responsiveness

Even the best systems encounter challenges - and that’s where Pelion’s support shines.

Paul recalls a recent bus-station signage outage:

“We have excellent monitoring, but when issues span multiple layers, identifying the root cause is tough. Pelion stepped up — even on the weekend — and worked directly with our engineers to resolve the problem. That left a lasting impression.”

This hands-on support extends up to senior management, something Paul says is rare in the industry:

“All providers have outages from time to time — the important thing is how you handle them. Pelion is incredibly responsive, especially since becoming independent. They’re always willing to help.”

Built for the real world

Journeo’s connectivity needs don’t stop at the UK border. When vehicles operate across Northern Ireland and into the Republic, multi-network SIMs and cross-border tariff flexibility become essential.

Paul notes:

“We also needed creative tariffs after the UK left the EU. Pelion provided multi-network SIMs that could connect with network providers in both areas.”

It’s this agility — in both technology and pricing — that makes Pelion Journeo’s primary SIM provider. Paul adds:

“We’re phasing out other providers who aren’t as responsive or flexible. With Pelion, it’s not just about selling products — they work with us to create the best solution.”

 A Vision for the Future

This partnership has evolved beyond business into something more collaborative and visionary. Over meals in Glasgow or planning sessions for new deployments, Journeo and Pelion continue to explore what’s next in connected transport.

Dave Weidner, Pelion’s CEO, says:

“I’m thrilled to celebrate Journeo’s achievements throughout our longstanding partnership. It’s inspiring to see how our connectivity solutions are helping shape the future of transport.”

And that future is already underway. Pelion remains Journeo’s partner of choice across new transport security and infrastructure projects.

Paul concludes:

“Pelion are always happy to help us help our end users. That’s real added value compared to others.”

The Connected Transport Revolution

Without always-on connectivity, none of the smart transport innovations we rely on — apps showing real-time bus arrivals, mobile payments, or remote diagnostics — would be possible.

As Mike puts it:

“Without a reliable communication system, providing operators with remote access services could never work. Journeo’s work proves what’s possible when you have a system that connects everything — and it works all the time.”

Key Takeaways

• Reliable connectivity: 13,000+ IoT devices connected via Pelion across the UK.

• Flexible data: 130+ TB pooled data available across SIMs.

• Seamless integration: From CCTV to signage, systems work together via the Pelion platform.

• Scalable & cost-effective: Effortless scaling without complex billing or rigid plans.

• Responsive support: Weekend technical assistance and senior-level involvement.

 Final word

Journeo’s mission to modernize public transport systems is powered by a connectivity platform that works 24/7 - Pelion. Together, they are helping transform UK transport into a smarter, safer, and more connected network for everyone.