CEPAS

CEPASLocation| Singapore

|

Launched| April 2002; 23 years ago (2002-04) (FeliCa EZ-Link)
February 2009; 16 years ago (2009-02) (CEPAS card-based EZ-Link)
9 October 2009; 15 years ago (2009-10-09) (CEPAS card-based NETS FlashPay)
28 January 2021; 4 years ago (2021-01-28) (CEPAS account-based EZ-Link)
21 December 2021; 3 years ago (2021-12-21) (CEPAS account-based NETS Prepaid Card)
Technology|

* Contactless smart card, NFC

Operator| Concession cards and EZ-Link cards

* SimplyGo Pte Ltd

FlashPay and prepaid cards

* NETS Pte Ltd

Credit and debit cards

* Visa Inc
* Mastercard (including now-defunct GrabPay Mastercard)
* American Express
* Youtrip
* DBS Bank
* OCBC Bank
* Revolut
* Instarem
* UOB Bank
* Standard Chartered
* HSBC Bank

Manager| SimplyGo Pte Ltd
Currency| SGD ($500 maximum load)
Credit expiry| 5 years (EZ-Link)
7 years (FlashPay)
Auto recharge| Auto top-up (available on SimplyGo app)
Unlimited use| Adult monthly travel card
Validity|

* Singapore Mass Rapid Transit
* Singapore Light Rapid Transit
* Singapore public buses
* Sentosa Express
* Electronic parking
* Retail payments

Retailed|

* SimplyGo ticket offices
* MRT passenger service centres
* 7-Eleven stores

Variants|

* Concession cards (for concessionary fare travel)
* Adult cards (utilising bank cards or stored-value cards)

Website| SimplyGo

CEPAS, the Specification for Contactless e-Purse Application, is a Singaporean specification for an electronic money smart card. The specification was prepared by the Cards and Personnel Identification Technical Committee (CPITC), under the purview of the IT Standard Committee of Singapore (ITSCS). It has been gazetted as Singapore Standard SS 518 by Enterprise Singapore.[1] CEPAS has been deployed island-wide, replacing the previous original EZ-Link card effective 1 October 2009.[2]

## Function

[edit]

The CEPAS provides the command sets and data bytes that can be used for contactless e-purse applications and focuses on the debit and credit areas. The most recent version of the standard is CEPAS 3.0, which adds support for account-based ticketing with a token held on the CEPAS card. The standard allows for the interoperability of multi-purpose stored value (MPSV) card payment schemes from different card issuers and system operators.

## Background

[edit]

CEPAS is spearheaded by the Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA), and is one of the key next generation e-payment initiatives under Singapore's iN2015 infocomm masterplan led by IMDA.[3] The vision of CEPAS is for Singaporeans to have a single MPSV card for use all around Singapore for micro-payments. This includes transit (bus, MRT, LRT), taxi, motoring (ERP, parking), retail, and other services.

CEPAS is a result of close collaboration by IMDA with different industry players and the Land Transport Authority (LTA). The other key collaborators are the Cards & Personal Identification Technical Committee (CPITC) under the Singapore IT Standards Committee (ITSC), Network for Electronic Transfers (NETS) and EZ-Link Pte Ltd (EZ-Link). SPRING Singapore published CEPAS as SS 518 and was officially launched during the CEPAS Launch & Next Generation e-Payment seminar on 27 June 2006, held at Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre.[3]

## Current and future payment landscape

[edit]

The current micro-payment landscape in Singapore is fragmented, with different standards, and is dominated by two main players: NETS and EZ-Link. EZ-Link controls the transit space, NETS controls the motoring (ERP, parking) space, Visa, MasterCard, and AMEX control the retail space. NETS also dominates the retail space, with EZ-Link having a limited presence. Currently, cards and readers from both providers cannot interoperate, resulting in consumers holding different cards for payment of various services and goods.

CEPAS aims to open and level the micro-payment playing field. For example, NETS and credit/debit card holders will be able to use their cards to pay for transit, while EZ-Link card holders will be able to use their cards for retail and motoring payments. [citation needed]

## Transaction processing methods

[edit]

See also: Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore) § Ticketing, and Fares and ticketing on the Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)

### Card-based offline debit

[edit]

The CEPAS card-based EZ-Link and NETS FlashPay cards released on 29 December 2008[4] operate as offline cards, intended for farecards in transit systems and micropayments in retail. As transactions are processed offline without having to maintain an active network connection to the bank for processing, lower transaction fees are incurred compared to debit and credit cards.

Payment mode  | Description  | Year introduced  | Chip and PIN | Contactless payment | Top-up using self-help machines  | Public transport payments  | Retail payments  | Carpark payments

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

• EZ-Link cards

• Concession cards

• EZ-Link Motoring cards

• EZ-Charms

• EZ-Link Wearables

• EZ-Link NFC SIM cards

(card-based offline debit)

| Card-based stored-value wallet, based on CEPAS standard.

✓ It can be used for retail and public transport payments, without remote management functionality.

✓ Commuters can see their fare cost and card balance at the gantry.

✓ The card-based offline debit EZ-Link cards and EZ-Link Motoring cards are compatible with dual mode in-vehicle units for ERP and carpark payments.

| 2002: FeliCa card
2009: CEPAS card
2021: EZ-Link Motoring Card (CEPAS)

EZ-Link Motoring cards (with a non-account-based card profile & similar functionality) are still sold at 7-Eleven/Cheers convenience stores, selected Caltex petrol stations, Vicom centres, STA Inspection centres.[5]

| No  | Yes  | Top-up kiosks

Assisted service kiosks

SimplyGo kiosks (at MRT stations & bus interchanges)

| Yes  | Limited retail locations  |  Yes

• NETS FlashPay

• NETS Contactless CashCard (2nd generation)

•NETS Motoring Card)

(card-based offline debit)

| Card-based stored-value wallet, based on CEPAS standard for retail, public transport, and motoring payments.

✓ It can be used for retail and public transport payments, without remote management functionality.

✓ Commuters can see their fare cost and card balance at the gantry.

✓ It is compatible with dual mode in-vehicle units for ERP and carpark payments.

| 2009: NETS FlashPay
2018: NETS Contactless CashCard
2021: NETS Motoring Card

NETS FlashPay cards are no longer sold at TransitLink Ticket Offices since 15 March 2022, to encourage adoption of the SimplyGo account-based system.[6][7]

NETS Motoring cards (with FlashPay payment functionality) are still sold at petrol stations and convenience stores.

| No  | Yes  | Top-up kiosks/general ticketing machines

Assisted service kiosks

SimplyGo kiosks (at MRT stations & bus interchanges)

NETS top-up machines

| Yes  |  Yes  |  Yes

### Account-based online debit

[edit]

In 2016, the Land Transport Authority began the account-based ticketing trial to expand the range of e-payment options and eliminate the need for top-ups in transit. With that, the CEPAS version was changed to 3.0 and SeP to 2.0. It allowed credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) and mobile wallets (Apple Pay, Fitbit Pay, Garmin Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay) to be used in the transit system, in addition to the existing CEPAS EZ-Link and NETS FlashPay cards.[8][9]

In September 2020, LTA began a trial to expand the account-based ticketing system to CEPAS cards, which were conventionally based on a card-based ticketing system. The reason given for pushing the account-based ticketing system was that it removed the need for physical trips to top-up machines. As the card information is stored on a central server under account-based ticketing, access to travel history and card top-ups can be done remotely through mobile apps, without needing the card to be physically present.[10][11]

The account-based EZ-Link Card was launched in January 2021,[12] and the account-based NETS Prepaid Card was launched in November 2022.[13] These account-based cards replaced the former EZ-Link and NETS FlashPay cards that supported card-based ticketing. Transactions using account-based cards are processed in the backend. Hence commuters are unable to see their fare deduction and card value balance at MRT fare gates and bus readers.

On 10 January 2024, LTA announced that EZ-Link adult cards, which have not yet been upgraded to SimplyGo and NETS FlashPay cards, will no longer be accepted for public transport fare payment from 1 June 2024 due to the phasing out of the legacy card-based ticketing system. This decision was reversed because the commuters were concerned with card balance and fare displays. The ERP acceptance was not taken into consideration because of the car-lite society.[14][15]

Payment mode  | Description  | Year introduced  | Chip and PIN | Contactless payment | Top-up using self-help machines  | Public transport payments  | Retail payments  | Carpark payments

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

• SimplyGo EZ-Link cards

• SimplyGo Concession cards

(account-based online debit)

| Online account-based ticketing wallet, based on CEPAS standard.

As the card information is stored on a central server, the card balance can be topped up without presence of physical card.

✓ It is compatible with the SimplyGo system for remote management of public transport cards.

✗ Fare cost and card balance will not be displayed at the gantry. Commuters have to create an account and sign in to the SimplyGo website or app, to view their travel history and its related fares.

✗ These account-based online debit cards are not compatible with ERP and carpark payments.

| 2021[11] | No  | Yes  | Top-up kiosks/general ticketing machines

Assisted service kiosks

SimplyGo kiosks (at MRT stations & bus interchanges)

| Fare cost and card balance will not be displayed at the gantry.  | Limited acceptance  |  No

• NETS Prepaid Card

(account-based online debit)

| Online account-based ticketing wallet, for retail and public transport payments. It functions similarly to the NETS EFTPOS Debit card.

As the card information is stored on a central server, the card balance can be topped up without presence of physical card.

✓ It is compatible with the SimplyGo system for remote management of public transport cards.

✗ Fare cost and card balance will not be displayed at the gantry. Commuters have to create an account and sign in to the SimplyGo website or app, to view their travel history and its related fares.

✗ It is not compatible with ERP and carpark payments.

| 2022[16] | Yes
(for transactions ≥ $100) | Yes  | Top-up available on mobile app only  | Fare cost and card balance will not be displayed at the gantry.  |  Yes  |  No

## Criticisms

[edit]

There has been some criticism by the public that the auto-top-up service by GIRO for the new CEPAS card will require an administration fee for activation as well as for each top-up. In contrast, auto-top-up for the original EZ-Link card was free. Additionally, the public has complained that the application process for this service is now more complicated compared to the relatively easier process for the original version.[17]

LTA's announcement on 10 January 2024 about the discontinuation of the card-based ticketing EZ-Link & NETS FlashPay Cards and mandatory transition to the account-based ticketing SimplyGo EZ-Link & NETS Prepaid Cards drew a negative reception from the public. The concerns raised included the inability to view fares and card balances at the gantry. The public felt that the SimplyGo user experience for stored-value cards is unnecessarily complicated and over-reliant on mobile apps, which creates inconveniences for the elderly, children, and less tech-savvy demographics of the population.[18][19][20] The authorities reversed the decision on 22 January 2024, and existing EZ-Link & NETS FlashPay cards can continue to be used after 1 June 2024.[21]

## Gallery

[edit]

* Payment cards/logos
* Back of a CEPAS NETS FlashPay card

## See also

[edit]

* EZ-Link
* NETS FlashPay

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Singapore Standard SS 518 (ICS 35.240.15) Specification for Contactless e-purse application. Enterprise Singapore. 2006. ISBN 981-4154-26-1.
2. ^ Land Transport Authority (2 December 2009). "SeP Ready For Implementation". Archived from the original on 27 May 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2009.
3. ^ a b Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore (23 January 2008). "Specification for Contactless e-Purse Application (CEPAS)". Retrieved 3 February 2017.
4. ^ EZ-Link Pte Ltd (26 December 2008). "Commencement of sale of the NEW CEPAS-Compliant EZ-Link card". Retrieved 4 April 2009. [dead link]
5. ^ "EZ-Link Motoring card - EZ-Link".
6. ^ "NETS - Announcements".
7. ^ "Singapore's LTA Sees Strong Take-Up of Open-Loop Payments but has No Plans to End Closed Loop - Mobility Payments". 18 January 2023.
8. ^ "LTA launches digital payment scheme for public transport". The Straits Times. 4 April 2019. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
9. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - TransitLink SimplyGo".
10. ^ "LTA Launches SimplyGo Pilot On EZ-Link Cards - LTA".
11. ^ a b "Account-based EZ-Link cards available for use in Public Transport from 28 Jan - LTA".
12. ^ "EZ-Link launches account-based cards that allow top-ups through mobile app". CNA. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
13. ^ "NETS launches NETS Prepaid Card: its first 'smart' stored-value card for retail and transit – NETS".
14. ^ "Non-SimplyGo EZ-Link, NETS FlashPay cards not valid for public transport from June".
15. ^ "EZ-Link Adult Cardholders and NETS FlashPay Cardholders to Transit to SimplyGo for Public Transport Fare Payments by 1 June".
16. ^ "NETS launches 'smart' stored-value card for retail and transit". 21 November 2022.
17. ^ The Straits Times (15 September 2009). "Have a card to rival EZ-link". Archived from the original on 22 September 2009. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
18. ^ "CNA Explains: Why some Singapore commuters are upset about moving from EZ-Link to SimplyGo". CNA.
19. ^ "Commuters run into problems upgrading EZ-Link cards amid complaints over switch to SimplyGo". CNA.
20. ^ "Displaying fares, deductions at gantries under SimplyGo possible but 'will lead to longer queues': LTA". TODAY.
21. ^ Tjoe, Lee Nian; Yufeng, Kok (22 January 2024). "LTA shelves plan to replace older public transport payment cards with SimplyGo by June 1". The Straits Times. Retrieved 22 January 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Specification for Contactless ePurse Application (CEPAS)

* v
* t
* e

Rail transport in Singapore

Italicized entries are planned or under construction

Overview|

* History
* MRT (stations)
* LRT (stations)
* Fares and ticketing
* CEPAS
* EZ-Link
* NETS
* Visa
* Mastercard
* Facilities
* Art and architecture
* STARiS
* Safety
* Security
* Public Transport Security Command

MRT|

*  NSL  North–South Line
*  EWL  East–West Line
*  NEL  North East Line
*  CCL  Circle Line
*  DTL  Downtown Line
*  TEL  Thomson–East Coast Line
*  JRL  Jurong Region Line
*  CRL  Cross Island Line

Defunct|

* Branch Line

LRT|

*  BPLRT  Bukit Panjang LRT
*  SKLRT  Sengkang LRT
*  PGLRT  Punggol LRT

Others|

* Changi Airport Skytrain
* Sentosa Express

Defunct|

* Jurong Bird Park Panorail
* Sentosa Monorail

Cross-border|

*  Intercity  KTM Tebrau Shuttle
*  RTS  Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System
*  HSR  Kuala Lumpur–Singapore high-speed rail

Rolling stock|

| MRT|

* C151
* C751A
* C830
* C151A
* C951(A)
* C830C
* C751C
* C151B
* C151C
* T251
* R151
* C851E
* J151
* CR151

|

LRT|

* C801
* C810(A)
* C801A
* C801B
* C810D

Other|

* Crystal Mover
* Hitachi Monorail

Retired|

* C651
* C751B

Depots|

* Bishan
* Ulu Pandan
* Changi
* Ten Mile Junction
* Sengkang
* Kim Chuan
* Gali Batu
* Tuas
* Tai Seng
* Mandai
* East Coast
* Tengah
* Changi East

Other|

* Singapore Rail Test Centre

Companies|

* ComfortDelGro
* SBS Transit
* SMRT Corporation
* SMRT Trains

Major incidents|

* 1993 Clementi rail accident
* 2004 Nicoll Highway collapse
* 2016 Pasir Ris rail accident
* 2017 Bishan tunnel flooding
* 2017 Joo Koon rail accident
* 2024 East–West MRT line disruption

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