A consortium that includes EZ-Link, governing bodies and MNOs in Singapore has selected Gemalto to provide mobile phone based payments for Singapore's public transit commuters. The project which Gemalto is also part of will be running the country's largest e-payment system, said EZ-Link.
Gemalto's UpTeq Multi-Tenant NFC SIM has been selected to allow commuters to enjoy greater convenience through the embedded EZ-Link application, enabling them to take public transport with just a simple tap of their phone. According to Gemalto, the platform can also be deployed by mobile network operators (MNOs) and banks to provide new value-added services to customers.
The company said that Singapore's mass transit network boasts a high daily ridership of 6.65 million trips and with a population of 5.4 million, also has one of the highest smartphone penetration rates in the world with 8.1 million users.
Besides transport usage, the new mobile payment service is compatible with existing contactless infrastructure and features over 30,000 terminals covering retail stores, food and beverage outlets, and a fleet of taxis, said Gemalto. This makes it possible for consumers to leave their wallet at home and conduct all their daily purchases by just using their smartphone, it added.
Nicholas Lee, Chief Executive Officer, EZ-Link
EZ-Link is pleased to have concluded the trial with our partners, and together with Gemalto, we have successfully launched the EZ-Link NFC SIM to enable commuters to make public transit payments with their NFC-enabled mobile phones.
Michael Au, President, South Asia & Japan at Gemalto
This initiative is a Singapore first for mass transit. In the future, our NFC SIM can aggregate loyalty cards and discount coupons, delivering one-stop convenience for the users.
