The expansion of the SimplyGo service to include Visa will bring added convenience to cardholders and international travellers visiting Singapore.
Commuters will soon be able to use their contactless Visa cards to pay for public transport fares as the SimplyGo service will be expanded come July 6, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said in a statement.
The service, which was launched in April with Mastercard contactless cards, enables commuters to use their contactless cards or mobile wallets on transit, eliminating the need for cash or EZ-Link cards, which require periodic top-ups.
«With this, we foresee Visa contactless usage in Singapore continuing to grow, surpassing the current contactless penetration of over 80 percent. Opening new contactless acceptance channels, especially transit, will transform the payment experience and consumer journey for Singaporeans and tourists wherever they go,» Kunal Chatterjee, Visa Country Manager for Singapore & Brunei, said.
Growth Since Launch
LTA is working towards a public transport system fully supported by e-payment methods, and SimplyGo is a «is a key pillar in our journey to enable commuters to have an easy and convenient way to adopt e-payments as a way of life.» Its use has been growing since its launch, with 120,000 trips made daily, according to LTA.
Mastercard and Visa contactless cardholders need not pre-register their cards for public transport rides. Commuters who use SimplyGo with contactless cards will be charged the same fares as those who currently use travel cards, and fares will be reflected on their monthly statements similar to retail purchases.
