Opencard

Opencard was a municipal smart card system in Prague, Czech Republic. Introduced in 2008, the card served as an alternative electronic ticket for all services of the Prague Integrated Transport system and as a payment card for parking fees at most city paid parking zones. It was also replacement of a library card for the Municipal Library and the National Library of Technology and had benefits from various discounts.

Opencard
LocationPrague, Czech Republic
Launched2008 (2008)
Technology
OperatorMagistrate of Prague
Validity
Variants
  • Anonymous Opencard
  • Unregistered personal Opencard
Websiteopencard.praha.eu
Opencard validator at Smíchovské nádraží metro station.
Opencard office at Letňany metro station.

The contactless smart card was intended for use by both residents and visitors of Prague, and was available in a personalized, a personalized but unregistered, and a fully anonymous version, at an issuing fee of 100–250 Kč.[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 1.5 B Kč (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, electronic card "Lítačka" started to be issued as a replacement. Opencard is no longer being issued and its validity definitively ended in February 2020.[3]

References
  1. "Price list". Magistrate of the Capital City of Prague. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  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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