Finnish government targets four million new smartcard users

The Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications is to expand its existing smartcard system which is aimed at public sector users and employees.

At the moment, more than one million Finns are using smartcards as a payment method across the transport network but the Ministry plans widespread deployment of the improved card to as many as five million people by the autumn.

The Kaupunkikortti (Citycard) enterprise is expected to feature payment facilities for public services across several major Finnish cities.

Speaking to silicon.com, Seppo Oorni, chief engineer from the Finnish ministry of transport and communications said: "We have been developing the smartcard project since 1993. It was first introduced as a public transport card in 1997, but the improved card will include payment capabilities for a variety of services such as healthcare payments."

Users can also load an electronic 'purse' function - called Avanti - onto their cards which will enable the card to be used in smaller transactions.

The next step for the initiative is to develop the card as a fully operating ecommerce platform. Digital signature and other verification methods have to be agreed first in order for the card to function as a payment in the private sector, according to Oorni.

In the UK, London Transport is planning to launch a smartcard by end of 2002. The card will feature public transport payment at first, but a spokesperson for London Transport told silicon.com that further features will be added if the project proves successful.