Vix Technology Wins $27M Contract to Create a Unified National Transit System in Malaysia

Vix Technology has been awarded a $27 million contract by the Malaysian Government’s public transport regulator to unify payments for the country’s multiple transit operators under a single transport ticketing system.

The scope of the deal signed with Transit Acquirer Sdn Bhd, a special purpose vehicle formed by the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) on 29 July 2015, will see Vix Technology design, install, operate and maintain the Transit Acquirer System (TAS) and Business Rules Engine (BRE) for the new integrated cashless payment system (ICPS). The ICPS will consolidate transit and micro-payments into a transit payments acquiring system and allow Malaysians who travel on the country’s current and future bus, rail, metro and monorail networks — to realize the benefits of using a single integrated smartcard to pay for all their travel.

The new system expected to roll out from early 2017, will make travel and payments quicker and easier for commuters, as well as tourists, who currently have to manage various prepaid accounts and card systems operated by several disconnected transit providers. The system will support both the touch-n-go card, as well as the new myDebit card currently being issued by Malaysian Banks.

Vix plans to establish its Asian operations hub in Malaysia and to deliver the project Vix Technology will hire 15 new employees across project management and development operations at its new office at the Mid-Valley tech hub in Kuala Lumpur, with up to 45 staff expected to be hired longer term to support Asian and group operations. Mohamad Nur Ismal Bin Mohamed Kamal, chief executive officer, Land Public Transport Commission Malaysia, said Vix would play an integral role in achieving the vision of a nationwide single public transport ticketing and payment system. “With the help of partners like Vix Technology, here in Malaysia we’re leading the world in the development of a unified public transportation system with the ability to use a single smartcard across all modes of transport, making travel simpler, faster and more convenient for all Malaysians and visitors to the county.”

Steve Gallagher, CEO, Vix Technology said the Malaysian contract win was recognition of the company’s extensive experience, reliability and record of service delivery of new technology solutions in the transit sector across Asia Pacific. “We’re really excited to help the Malaysian government deliver on its vision for a more integrated and seamless public transport journey for Malaysians, which will bring the country into line with some of the most advanced integrated public transit networks in the world,” Gallagher said.

“In the future, commuters will no longer need to carry multiple cards in their pockets every time they want to travel, making the transit network a lot more convenient and user friendly for locals and tourists alike.”
Gallagher said like other Vix solutions, the Malaysian system can accommodate new advances in technology, such as the introduction of EMV open payments, allowing passengers to pay with contactless debit and credit cards and NFC-enabled mobile phones.

The Vix contract comes on the back of another successful bid in Thailand in April 2015 which will see Vix establish a state-of-the-art payment clearing house for Bangkok’s newest train line, the third such central clearing house contract win by Vix in the country in the last four years. The 300 million Thai Baht deal (Approx AUD$10m) was won by the BSV consortium which includes, Vix, Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS Group) and Smart Traffic. The deal will see Vix Technology design, install and manage the new clearing house as well as train local engineers to maintain the technology.

In addition to supplying the core technology for Thailand’s BSS Rabbit smartcard loyalty scheme, Vix have a long history of successful transit ticketing and payment solutions in the region including Singapore and Hong Kong. Vix also developed the world’s largest payment central clearing house in Beijing before the 2008 Olympics, capable of processing more than 10 million passenger journeys per day.