The Open Ticketing Institute is the outgrowth of an initiative by Trans Link Systems (TLS) and several partners to make available the knowledge and experience of the Dutch e-ticketing system in public transport (the OV-chipkaart) to other e-ticketing schemes and interested parties. The institute is set at arm’s length of TLS as a separate not-profit foundation with its own man-agement and supervisory board.

The Institute and TLS work together in a technological development program for the follow-up technology of the OV-chipkaart. This program involves development of a new OV-chipcard, preparement of all card reader appliances and adjustment of the central systems of TLS. The Institute is financially supported by the Dutch Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management.

Open architecture

TLS has realised an open OV-ticketing architecture within the Netherlands. This is the first time an OV-chipcard architecture is developed for several PTOs, which is also relatively easy acces-sible for other interested parties and manufacturers. TLS wants to present the idea for an open architecture and the lessons learned to other interested parties. In 2008 TLS was confronted with the ‘hack’ of the OV-chipcard. As a result all attention went out to problem solving and making sure additional measures to prevent fraud and abuse were implemented. Two years later, the idea to present the open architecture and the lessons learned re-emerged within the Institute. At the same time the first step of the migration scenario (preparation phase) started. The Open Tic-keting Institute was set up to do both: implement the first phase (carry out the research and development) and make sure all findings are made publicly available.

Planning Open Ticketing Institute

The Institute has set up the following timeline for their plans:

1. The Institute has set up the following timeline for their plans:
   The first year, 2010, is used for development of the new OV-chipcard and preparations to use this card in the existing environment. At the end of 2010 it was possible to start migration to the newly developed OV-chipcard environment, either within a natural re-placement scenario (approximately 5 years) or within 12 months in case of rise in fraud or abuse. The first scenario has preference, also because of the costs involved to migrate within a shorter time frame. The two most important factors for these high costs are replacement of all OV-chipcards and adjusting the software of all card readers. Currently (April 2011) approximately 9.55 million OV-chipcards are distributed and more than 50.000 devices are operational. Therefore the natural replacement scenario has preference In theory, it is possible to replace the OV-chipcards at the end of their life spam of five years. Also the card appliances can be updated or equipped with new components during regular maintenance. This will result in lower costs for the parties in-volved and would mean we have a new OV-chipcard environment over approximately five years;
2. The following years are for demonstration, knowledge sharing, other potential research and development projects and educational purposes. For this the Institute works together with the ‘science forum’ in the Netherlands, e-ticketing schemes and provides funds for two Ph.D. students. Knowledge gained during the initial development and roll out and from the migration phase will be presented to interested parties.