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| Subject: Octopus spreads its tentacles The MTR Corp and its 57.4 per cent-owned Octopus Cards subsidiary | |
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Author: 13 November 2003 / 01:56 AM contactless smartcard technology in The Netherlands. |
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Date Posted: Friday, November 14, 11:06:14am Octopus spreads its tentacles Dennis Eng The MTR Corp and its 57.4 per cent-owned Octopus Cards subsidiary will reap more than HK$200 million after clinching their first international deal to replicate Hong Kong's contactless smartcard technology in The Netherlands. ``We will continue to extend the use of Octopus card technology overseas,'' MTR Corp acting chief executive Phil Gaffney said yesterday without specifying how the contract will be divided between the two companies. Under the agreement, the MTR Corp and Octopus Cards will provide back office support and operational expertise as subcontractor to the Thales Group. France-based Thales has partnered with Accenture and Vialis to lead the East West Consortium, which will implement the world's first nationwide smartcard transport system in a contract worth more than 120 million euros (HK$9.58 billion). ``This is an important step for the Octopus technology to establish its presence in one of the most technologically advanced countries in Europe,'' Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology John Tsang said. The system will be launched in Rotterdam first, followed by Amsterdam and other cities, The Netherlands' consul-general in Hong Kong, Andre Brouwer, said. Five public transport companies are involved, including the country's rail operator, Nederlandse Spoorwegen, bus and tramway operator ConneXXion, the public transport companies of Rotterdam (RET) and Amsterdam (GVB), as well as HTM, which runs the light train system in The Hague. ``The smartcard system will cover all public transportation in The Netherlands and will replace the use of individual tickets and personal subscriptions,'' Brouwer said. Octopus Cards chief executive Eric Tai said he expected construction of the system in the Netherlands to take at least two or three years. MTR Corp's Gaffney said the Hong Kong underground rail operator was looking at selling its technology to Copenhagen's public transport system and was eyeing possible opportunities in Switzerland, North America, China and the Asia region. The MTR Corp has made no secret that it is eager to extend its Octopus technology beyond Hong Kong since the smartcard system was launched here in September 1997. Currently, Hong Kong is saturated with more than 10 million Octopus cards, which can be used in retail outlets, parking facilities, schools as well as for access in housing estates. According to Gaffney, MTR Corp is eyeing several mainland cities, including Changsha and Shenzhen. Octopus Cards' other shareholders are Kowloon-Canton Railway Corp, with 22.1 per cent, KMB Public Bus Services Holdings, at 12.4 per cent, Citybus, with 5 per cent, and New World First Bus and First Ferry Services with a combined 3.1 per cent. 13 November 2003 / 01:56 AM [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |