Four leading mobile network operators in Russia have made a decision to start a scientific research “Development of proposals on launch and realization of mass NFC services in the mobile networks of the Russian Federation” that should end up in a rollout of the NFC Test Zone in Russia. This initiative was taken by the Board of Infocommunication Union (ICU) on December 3, 2009.
In his welcoming speech to the Board Alexander Krupnov, President of Infocommunication Union, emphasized the importance of modernization of existing financial and legislative relations in mobile commerce, which provide for innovative cashless payment instruments based on advanced telecommunication technologies.
The members of the Board include representatives of the leading mobile operators in Russia: VympelCom, MegaFon, MTS, Moskovskaya Sotovaya Svyaz. They have joined the Infocommunication Union initiative in the framework of Mobile Payments project to push forward the date of NFC-based mobile services’ arrival to their subscribers in Russia.
The Infocommunication Union is a non-profit organization, supported by the Russian government and largest mobile network operators. It represents the interests and efforts of all stakeholders of the telecommunication market, providing research and investment. Interaction among m-commerce market participants is enabled by the Mobile Payments project. Since the first days of its establishment the Mobile Payments project of the Infocommunication Union pays special attention to the development of NFC technology and its promotion in Russia. Ivan Kuznetsov, head of the project, emphasizes that accumulated international experience proves NFC the most promising contactless technology in the sphere of mobile payments.
In order to summarize the world experience in deployment of NFC-based mobile services the research ‘Development of proposals and recommendations for NFC technology employment’ was implemented by ICU in 2008. It appeared the first commercial research in Russia on NFC technology and possibilities of its realization in the Russian Federation.
The goals put forward by the mobile operators in new research provide for practical solutions. The mobile operators are interested in launch of a series of NFC trials to realize mobile payment services, considered the most perspective in Russia.
The Test Zone for NFC-based mobile services will be started in the railway environment in spring of 2010. By that time the company Processing Technologies, the chief executer of the research, should bring to the end its work on proposals for technical solutions and start the rollout of the Test Zone together with the Aeroexpress company. New NFC-based mobile services of payment for railway tickets will be accessible for customers of Aeroexpress and four Russian mobile operators already in summer 2010. Next step planned is commercial deployment of NFC mobile services.
Infocommunication Union
