OASA: What's behind the two-day telematics blackout?

An extended two-day blackout of the OASA telematics system has left thousands of Athens public transport users without crucial real-time information, sparking concerns that extend far beyond a simple technical glitch. The lack of official explanation for the failure of this vital information system for the city's buses and trolleybuses has fueled speculation and raised numerous questions.

Adding to the mystery is the timing of the outage. The system's 12-year contract with its service provider expired at the end of June 2026. OASA had to grant a 70-day extension, reportedly costing around 940,000 euros, to maintain service continuity while a new tender process for a 45.6 million euro contract was underway. This proximity of the failure to the contract's expiration and extension period has drawn particular attention.

While OASA initially cited a 'technical problem,' internal sources and technical experts are exploring various possibilities. These include hardware malfunctions, software errors, central server issues, communication problems, and even the possibility of a cyberattack. The latter scenario is reportedly under consideration, though not officially confirmed or denied.

Critical questions now surround who holds operational responsibility for the system's maintenance during this transitional period. The delay in completing the new tender process and the subsequent reliance on an extension have raised concerns about OASA's preparedness and contingency planning. The public awaits clear answers regarding the cause of the blackout and the steps being taken to ensure the reliability of the telematics system moving forward.