Rio’s commuters welcome contactless Visa application

Transit authorities could soon be seeing the benefits of contactless payments – without having to replace expensive turnstiles or terminals. That, at least, is what Visa is suggesting as the company launches its own secure access model (SAM), which is set to be put into service in Brazil. Metro Rio will be the first transit operator to launch contactless payments using the Visa SAM in late April. Visa and Planeta Informatica say the new technology “makes it easy for transit organisations and operators to
March 6, 2019 Read time: 2 mins
Transit authorities could soon be seeing the benefits of contactless payments – without having to replace expensive turnstiles or terminals.


That, at least, is what Visa is suggesting as the company launches its own secure access model (SAM), which is set to be put into service in Brazil.

Metro Rio will be the first transit operator to launch contactless payments using the Visa SAM in late April.

Visa and Planeta Informatica say the new technology “makes it easy for transit organisations and operators to begin offering riders the ability to tap to pay with a contactless card, phone or wearable device, without the expense and technical requirements of replacing current turnstiles or terminal hardware”.

Rather than having to buy new hardware, operators can install the Visa SAM directly into existing systems. Visa called it a “transformational development”.

“Through our work with Planeta Informatica, we have pioneered a way to accelerate the shift to contactless transit that is scalable and highly secure, while generating time and cost savings for transit operators by removing the hurdles of replacing potentially thousands of transit readers across the transport system,” says Nick Mackie, global head of urban mobility for Visa.

Visa launched its mass transit payment framework in 2017. “We worked diligently with Visa to build the best technological solution for adding EMV contactless acceptance on top of any existing closed-loop payment system without necessarily replacing the entire electronic ticketing infrastructure,” said Artur Costa, CEO of Planeta Informática.

The two companies have partnered with 7849 Ingenico Group to implement the Visa SAM in Rio de Janeiro.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Commuting habits come under scrutiny
    March 28, 2017
    Cities have a moral responsibility to encourage the smart use of transportation and Andrew Bardin Williams hears a few suggestions. Given the choice of getting a root canal, doing household chores, filing taxes, eating anchovies or commuting to work, nearly two-thirds of Americans said that they wouldn’t mind commuting into work—at least according to a poll conducted by Xerox (now Conduent) over its social media channels at the end of 2016.
    Read More
  • Masabi launches ticketing app for Roman holidays
    April 18, 2019
    Masabi has partnered with tour bus operator Prestige to launch a ticketing app for a sightseeing bus service operating in Rome, Italy. Masabi says the Enjoy Bus Rome app allows riders to buy a ticket on their phone and discover Rome’s art, architecture and history. The app includes the full range of fares ranging from daily to 72 passes for adults and children. It is available in English but will soon be launched in Italian, Spanish and Japanese. The service uses Masabi’s Justride ticketing plat
    Read More
  • Brazil's Odebrecht to invest in infrastructure
    April 9, 2014
    Brazil's Odebrecht group is planning to invest some US$18billion in infrastructure projects by 2017. According to CEO Marcelo Odebrecht, the company will invest US$4.5 to US$7 billion per year over the next three years and much of it involves concessions and public-private partnerships (PPP), according to local reports. Through Odebrecht Transport, the company will be investing in transportation infrastructure projects such as federal highway BR-163 in the mid-western state of Mato Grosso, Galeão int
    Read More
  • Leaders call for US to accelerate autonomous cars
    May 20, 2016
    A group seeking to improve American oil security through domestic production, fuel competition, driverless technology and anti-cartel measures has called on policymakers to remove regulatory hurdles in order to accelerate the deployment of self-driving cars, as well as revise tax incentives to boost sales of less expensive electric vehicles. Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE), chaired by FedEx Corporation chairman, president and CEO Frederick W. Smith and retired US Marine Corps Commandant James Con
    Read More

Highlighted Content