GlobalPlatform lays out e-ticketing pitch

Source: GlobalPlatform

GlobalPlatform, the international specification body for smart card infrastructure, has published a white paper to explain how its existing neutral and scalable technology can add value to the subscription and management of e-ticketing solutions.

The document is free to download from globalplatform.org.

The white paper, entitled: 'GlobalPlatform's Value Proposition for the Public Transportation Industry: Seamless, Secure Travel Throughout Multiple Transportation Networks', will be of interest to public transport operators, transportation authorities, fare management system integrators, equipment providers and consultants advising on the implementation of e-ticketing programs. It discusses in detail how current GlobalPlatform Specifications can be applied to create a secure and interoperable e-ticketing system that supports uninterrupted travel between cities or entire countries, and the management of additional convenient customers services such as timetable access or bike rental.

The white paper also explains how the association's technology can enable the usage of a third party media, for example a mobile phone, to undertake e-ticketing transactions.

Gil Bernabeu, GlobalPlatform's Technical Director and Technical Advisor for the Standardization and Technology Department at Gemalto, explains: "GlobalPlatform's technology meets the security and privacy requirements that are essential to deliver a secure, scalable and interoperable e-ticketing solution. By allowing multiple applications to securely coexist on the same media, GlobalPlatform's technology provides implementers with the functionality to create an infrastructure that empowers a user by allowing them to easily and securely subscribe to, and manage their own e-ticketing program. This represents a transition from a simple e-ticket offering to a 'travel companion concept', where users are essentially customizing the solution to meet their individual requirements."

Michel Barjansky, Leader of GlobalPlatform's Transportation sub-Task Force and Innovation Manager, Engineering Department at Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens (RATP), comments: "GlobalPlatform's contribution to this evolving landscandscape is essential when you consider its cross-industry positioning. The white paper illustrates how the adoption of GlobalPlatform technology within sectors such as telecoms, payment and government, can effectively support the convergence of the transportation market with other industries."

Sebastien Tormos, GlobalPlatform Chairman and Director of Marketing at Datacard Group, adds: "GlobalPlatform technology's implementation across a range of sectors is important when delivering innovative and convenient passenger services. For example, in a GlobalPlatform e-ticketing solution environment a person who travels regularly could use their mobile phone to download the appropriate travel tickets depending on the city they are in. The mobile device itself then becomes the transport ticket, allowing the user to miss the queues and 'tap' their phone at the required terminal to gain access to a transportation network, such as an underground station. In this simple example, three applications sit securely in the mobile phone - payment, transit and GSM. GlobalPlatform technology offers a neutral yet highly secure infrastructure to support this concept and make it a reality."

Further benefits of deploying GlobalPlatform's proven infrastructure outlined in the paper include driving down costs through competitive procurement practices, ensuring scalability and backward compatibility of the technology, and reassurances that these specifications have been evaluated and are aligned with the highest possible security standards.

The white paper was developed jointly by the following GlobalPlatform members: Collis, FIME (subsidiary of France Telecom), GALITT, Gemalto, NEC, Nextendis, NXP, and RATP.

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