Skip to main content

NFC Forum and APTA sign collaboration agreement

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and the NFC Forum have signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will enable the two organisations to jointly educate the industry on near field communication (NFC) technologies supporting the needs of public transportation operators. The use of NFC for public transit ticketing is growing. Recently, New York State announced a plan to support NFC payments for the 11-million-user Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and the UK Cards Asso
February 18, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
The American Public Transportation Association (618 APTA) and the NFC Forum have signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will enable the two organisations to jointly educate the industry on near field communication (NFC) technologies supporting the needs of public transportation operators.

The use of NFC for public transit ticketing is growing. Recently, New York State announced a plan to support NFC payments for the 11-million-user Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and the UK Cards Association unveiled a framework to implement contactless payments, including NFC, nationwide on all forms of public transit.

Through the MOU, APTA and the NFC Forum will work on joint programs including training courses, white papers, case study analyses, merchant and transportation customer research, webcasts, and hosted events or trade shows.

APTA will work with the NFC Forum Transport Special Interest Group (SIG) to define approaches for utilisation of NFC technology to address a range of needs, including supporting passenger information systems, ticketing, and proof of payment fares. APTA will also participate in global workshops led by the Transport SIG with leading standards organisations, including the GSM Association (representing mobile operators), CEN/TC278 (the organisation promoting intelligent transportation systems), Smart Ticketing Alliance and public transportation authorities for the purpose of gathering requirements and harmonising work across the groups.

Public transportation is a key target market for the NFC Forum. The NFC Forum has been active in promoting the adoption of NFC technology in public transportation, most recently forming an alliance in 2015 with the GSM Association, Smart Ticketing Alliance, and CEN/TC278 to bring about harmonization of specifications with regard to NFC technology for the public transport industry.

Related Content

  • September 12, 2014
    Australia faces tough choices over toll tags
    With more than seven million tolling tags nearing the end of their life, delegates to ITS Australia’s 2014 National Electronic Tolling Conference had more than a passing interest debating possible ways forward. Rex Wright, chair of the Australian Toll Road Users’ Group, said the industry was potentially facing an AUD$100million bill over the next five years but the toll operators are committed to a unified national approach, consistent with the current interoperability.
  • November 18, 2013
    Revealed: the SESAMES Awards 2013 winners in full
    Ten companies are celebrating this morning after the winners of the SESAMES Awards were announced at a gala reception in the Automobile Club de Paris (pictured) last night. The purpose of the 11 awards – the Oscars of the secure payments industry – is to recognise and reward the sector’s best innovations every year.
  • September 16, 2022
    WTS and Eno aim to advance equity
    Organisations will further recognition of women and minorities in the transport sector
  • March 1, 2013
    Integrating ferry transport into smart ticketing
    Transport authorities are increasingly looking to integrate ferry travel into the mix of public transport. David Crawford finds out more. The new A$370m (US$398m) Opal public transport smartcard system being installed by the Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS)-led Pearl consortium in Sydney is geographically the largest in the world to date. The consortium includes the Commonwealth Bank of Australia; Australian retail payment system provider ePay; Australian infrastructure engineering company Downer Group; a