New revenue streams for transit operators through NFC

NXP has claimed the top spot in the contactless ticketing market in ABI Research’s new market analysis. Shipments of the Mifare range (Classic, Plus, Ultralight, and DESFire) remain strong despite some security concerns around the Classic product. ABI says that overall, Mifare has withstood scrutiny and demonstrates that the highest level of security is not an overriding factor in adoption with the focus on cost effectiveness, convenience, and reliability. The lack of alternative solutions has helped cement
May 9, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
5460 NXP has claimed the top spot in the contactless ticketing market in 5725 ABI Research’s new market analysis. Shipments of the Mifare range (Classic, Plus, Ultralight, and DESFire) remain strong despite some security concerns around the Classic product. ABI says that overall, Mifare has withstood scrutiny and demonstrates that the highest level of security is not an overriding factor in adoption with the focus on cost effectiveness, convenience, and reliability. The lack of alternative solutions has helped cement a strong market presence early on and the depth and breadth of the current product range gives the brand continued success.

Historically, the market has been dominated by proprietary systems such as Mifare and Calypso, although moves are underway that could potentially open up the market. Open loop payments using the EMV platform are a hot topic and there has already been a large scale implementation throughout 1466 Transport for London’s network in preparation for the 2012 Olympics.

The convergence between open-loop payments and contactless ticketing would allow seamless transaction completion between multiple, international networks and also provide a launch pad for other platforms such as NFC.

Research analyst Phil Sealy comments, “The integration of NFC will present new opportunities to transit authorities. By partnering with local businesses, transit operators are able to offer value added services, providing partnering businesses the opportunity to offer consumers vouchers or marketing via NFC handsets. This will generate new revenue streams for transit operators.”

Open standards are coming to market with the OSPT having already published the specifications for Cipurse, a microcontroller-based solution. Pilots are expected to begin in 2012, with other specifications supporting a memory-based and a RFID disposable solution to follow.

Group director John Devlin says, “We expect to see Cipurse deployments start in Europe and then follow in other regions as more cities see the benefit in smarter transportation systems. A broader and more flexible product range will help it to develop like Mifare.”

ABI Research’s “Contactless Ticketing for Transportation” study provides regional shipment data on smart card and disposable RFID solutions by region and product type. The report provides ABI Research's view of the most likely future market changes and developments.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Transport and traffic management for major sporting events
    February 2, 2012
    Maurizio Tomassini, Isis, and Monica Giannini, Pluservice, detail the STADIUM project, which is intended to provide those responsible for planning major international events with a blueprint for success
    Read More
  • New opportunities in a data-rich future
    March 19, 2014
    Jason Barnes looks at where the detection and monitoring sector is heading. In the future, there will be no such thing as an un-instrumented road. Just a short time ago, that could have been a quote from a high-level policy document but with the first arrivals of vehicles with 802.11p connectivity – the door-opener to Vehicle-to-X (V2X) applications – it’s a statement which has increasing validity. The technology which uses our roads will also provide information on road conditions but V2X isn’t the only
    Read More
  • Littlepay joins Caltrans marketplace
    March 23, 2022
    Payment provider's products now available for California transit agencies to use
    Read More
  • Embedded connectivity delivers real time travel information
    February 3, 2012
    Ton Brand describes the GSM Association's Embedded mTelematics programme. As the world's roads become increasingly crowded, consumers and businesses are demanding better real-time information to help them both avoid traffic congestion and make smarter use of public transport. Embedding mobile connectivity directly into vehicles can enable drivers and passengers to see live traffic flows in their localities, as well as the expected arrival time of the next bus, ferry or tram
    Read More

Highlighted Content