NFC TIMES Exclusive Insight – The head of information systems for a major European transit operator says he believes public transit agencies should support interoperable fare payments globally, like mobile network operators offer roaming when their customers travel abroad.
Pierre-André Rulmont, VP for information systems for STIB-MIVB, the dominant transit operator in Brussels, Belgium, said that while some people believe the expected coming of Mobility-as-a-Service, or MaaS, could offer just such interoperability for transport systems, he does not necessarily agree it would.
MaaS platforms are being promoted as a way to enable users to plan, book and pay for door-to-door transport, including public transit, rideshare, even bicycle rentals, all in one platform or app and with one payment account. The early MaaS projects, however, have been fragmented and many do not include integrated payments. And the platforms or apps often involve third-party platform providers that may be private start-ups or tech companies. Some industry observers, in fact, believe that government regulation will be needed to ensure equal access for customers to MaaS platforms.
