Opencard

This article is about a proprietary municipal smartcard in Prague. For open-source smartcard solution, see OpenCard Framework.
Opencard
Location Prague, Czech Republic
Launched 2008 (2008)
Technology
Operator Magistrate of Prague
Validity
Variants
  • Anonymous Opencard
  • Unregistered personal Opencard
Website opencard.praha.eu
Opencard validator at Smíchovské nádraží metro station.
Opencard office at Letňany metro station.

Opencard is a municipal smart card system in Prague, Czech Republic. Rolled out from 2007 and officially introduced in 2008, the card serves as a replacement to certain municipal vouchers and tickets and as a library card for the Municipal Library's 41 automated branches and the National Library of Technology. It is also accepted as an alternative electronic ticket solution for all services of the Prague Integrated Transport system and as a coinless payment for parking fees at most inner-city paid-parking zones.

The contactless smart card is intended for use by both residents and visitors of Prague, and is available in a personalized, a personalized but unregistered, and a fully anonymous version, at an issuing fee of Kč 100–250.[1]

Largely outsourced to private contractors, Prague's Opencard has been a major national controversy since its introduction in 2008. Following the flawed tender process, several municipal administrators received suspended sentences and irregularities continue to be scrutinized by the Czech police. Even after the convictions, public-private contracts were renewed. All in all, the system cost the city of Prague some Kč 1.5 B (US$62 M) to implement.[2]

In June 2014, the municipality of Prague took over the card's administration, after the city refused to pay the previous contractor eMoneyServices a sum of US$2m in exchange for the rights to its proprietary operating system.[2]

In early 2016, the card "Lítačka" started to be issued as a replacement. Opencard is no longer being issued and it will stop being valid by 2020.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Price list". Magistrate of the Capital City of Prague. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Scrub lady". The Economist. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  3. ↑ "Prague begins issuing 'Lítačka' transit card". Český rozhlas. 1 March 2016.
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