LTA signs up Mastercard for account-based contactless ticketing in Singapore

Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) has signed a partnership agreement with Mastercard to begin piloting a new account-based ticketing system that will let commuters pay for their train and bus journeys using their existing contactless debit and credit cards.

LTAThe company announced its plans to test the contactless ticketing system across Singapore in March 2016. It aims to onboard at least 100,000 commuters for the pilot, which is scheduled to begin later this year.

“LTA is also working on enabling mobile phones for contactless use on public transit,” LTA says. “In addition, this new system will allow commuters to track their journey and fare history via a mobile app or web portal.”

“Through this public-private partnership, we look forward to the start of the pilot at the end of this year when commuters in Singapore can be one of the first in Asia to experience this additional fare payment option,” says Chew Men Leong, chief executive of LTA. “With this new option, they will be able to do away with the hassle of topping up their fare cards.”

Options

“As the contactless payments space continues to evolve, consumers will have different options to tap and pay securely at transit points from their Mastercard contactless cards to mobile phones and even wristbands and watches,” adds Deborah Heng, group head and general manager of Mastercard Singapore.

“With Singapore’s digitally savvy population, we are confident that the integration of Mastercard contactless payments in transit will resonate well with commuters.”

LTA has also piloted a contactless wristband to pay for public transport services and goods at retailers equipped with contactless readers. The pilot began in September 2015 and concluded in February this year.

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