Smart transit cards to reach 1.1 billion unit shipments in 2013
23 September, 2013
category: Contactless, Smart Cards, Transit
The global market for smart cards used in the public transportation sector is expected to reach 1.1 billion unit shipments in 2013, according to a new report from IHS Inc., a global source of critical information and insight.
The report, entitled “Smart Cards in Transportation – World – 2013,” presents additional detailed estimates and forecasts from 2012 to 2018. Detailed project profiles of more than 140 major transit systems are also researched and updated in this yearly industry report.
High shipments this year are being driven by the migration of memory-card to micro-controller-card technology in various transit systems across all major markets, but particularly in Europe and Latin America.
New smart ticketing systems launched in 2013 also are expected to contribute to the high volumes. Examples include Canada’s Compass card and Mexico’s Mexibus, both of which use micro-controller cards based on the MIFARE DESFire technology.
The increasing use of smart phones, m-ticketing and bank-issued credit or debit cards for transport ticketing will slow the growth of smart credentials in the global installed base.
However, Dubai’s NOL smart ticketing scheme, which has been running since 2009, represents a fully operating ecosystem that combines the function of every form factor in a seamless way that works to the benefit of the customer. By integrating multiple functions and elements into the system, it provides solutions suitable for any type of traveler.
In addition to public transportation, the IHS smart card report looks at the global smart ticketing market in terms of various segments including memory cards vs. micro-controller cards, paper cards vs. plastic cards, contactless vs. dual interface, and more.
