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#TECH: Touch 'n Go to expand usage of RFID tag

KUALA LUMPUR: The usage of Touch 'n Go RFID will be expanded to all Plus highway toll plazas well as places like parking, petrol station and drive thrus starting from April this year.

The technology, which is designed for road users to pass toll gates more seamlessly and faster, has great usage potential in those three areas.

The RFID payment system has gone through an 18-months public pilot programme in 22 highways in the country.

Touch 'n Go Sdn Bhd's chief executive officer Syahrunizam Samsudin, said RFID, a short form for radio frequency identification, is an important component of intelligent transport system and it will propel Malaysia to the level of countries like Singapore, Taiwan and China.

"The use of this technology is not limited to just highways, but also for refuelling, parking and retail drive-thrus," he said at Touch 'N Go Chinese New Year event in Bangsar today.

Syahrunizam said RFID technology will be a key enabler to access daily use cases more conveniently, improve traffic enforcement and management capabilities, as well as support the government in providing better mobility services to Malaysians.

Currently Touch 'n Go has invested in one million TNG RFID tags, and starting Feb 15, 2020, the company will start charging RM35 for the tag.

Commenting on the expanded usage of the TNG RFID tags, he said the company is in talks to various partners to make this happen.

"We have talked to at least 20 major malls, which are already using Touch 'n Go system, as well as fuel companies and retail outlets," he said, adding that the first non-highway usage is parking and this is expected to start in the third quarter of this year," said Syahrunizam.

The usage of RFID at petrol stations for refuelling, meanwhile, is expected to start from fourth quarter, and drive-thrus usage will be from the first quarter of 2021.

The TNG RFID tag is linked to users Touch 'n Go e-wallet account.

Globally, 70.5 million vehicles are connected through RFID technology, and the market is expecting a 7 percent compound annual growth rate. Asia Pacific is seen as a driving force behind this growth.

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