Rome to offer open loop transit payments to UnionPay cardholders

By Gloria Methri

Payment technology company Nexi has partnered with JCB and UnionPay to enable contactless cardholders to access Rome’s public transportation.

The move makes Rome the first city in Europe to offer contactless payment service to cardmembers in possession of contactless cards from the international JCB and UnionPay circuits.

The service, commonly known as open-loop transit, is now available through Nexi and the contactless sales channel developed by ATAC across the entire transportation network of Rome.

Millions of tourists and citizens, especially from Asian countries, will benefit from the service on all public transportation vehicles in Rome. The service is active on all surface lines, buses, trams, and trolleybuses, as well as on the entire metro network and some urban railway lines equipped with entrance turnstiles.

“The partnerships again demonstrate how Nexi has the technology, scale, and expertise to operate successfully at a global level. We are proud that an Italian city, Rome, will be the first city in Europe to offer this service to a potential pool of millions of Asian citizens, thus accelerating the process of digitalising travel tickets in Rome,” said Filippo Maria Signoretti, Merchant Solutions Director Italy in Nexi.

Ray Shinzawa, Managing Director, JCB International (Europe) Ltd., said, “JCB offers a unique proposition to European transit operators looking for a reliable partner for their next phase of growth. This exciting partnership reaffirms our commitment to delivering the best solutions for our cardmembers and business partners across Europe, opening the doors to new projects within the transit industry.”

Yang Shengliang, Head of UnionPay International Europe Branch, said, “As a leading global payment network dedicated to enhancing the payment experience for travellers worldwide, UnionPay is thrilled to collaborate with Nexi in introducing open loop transit in Rome. This ground-breaking initiative not only simplifies travel experiences for UnionPay cardholders but also underscores our progress to fostering seamless, innovative payment solutions across Europe.”

The service, which is already available to passengers with Mastercard, Visa, and American Express cards, has already been extended and is currently active for both JCB and UnionPay cardholders.