Indra to implement state-of-the-art toll management technology in Portugal

Indra, the premier IT company in Spain and a leading IT multinational in Europe, was awarded a contract to implement its toll management systems on Euroscut Norte Motorway, which stretches for 74 miles from Oporto to the North border of Spain. The contract was awarded by Cintra, a Ferrovial subsidiary, which has been the motorway concessionaire since 2001.

The project is within Portugal’s initiative to transform the shadow tolling scheme-paid by the Government to the concessionaire-and direct traditional toll fees-with barrier- into teletoll systems that allow users to pays through an electronic device called TAG located onboard the vehicle without need to reduce speed or change lanes. In compliance with recently approved European regulations, Portugal moves up to a leading position in the search of new ways of financing infrastructures as well as in the promotion of this technology by making it compulsory that all vehicles carry the TAG electronic device on board.

Indra will undertake the implementation of the new toll systems on the Euroscut Norte motorway to replace shadow tolling with Teletoll systems. The company will also implement the operation management and back office systems which will allow fast and easy management of the toll collection and will provide all the systems with information in real time for decision-making. The platform, designed by the company, will increase effectiveness and reduce costs in the management of accounts and transactions received from all eight collection points that will be created.

Secure and avant-garde technology

As far as technology is concerned the solution includes, among others, an operational module in charge of processing the traffic coming from the collection points, for management and validation; and a commercial module that will manage accounts and clients through different relation channels relying on a powerful report system. The platform, highly reliable and scalable, is capable of managing 670,000 users a day and its capacity can be increased up to 1.5 million a day.

For security in transactions, the solution complies with the PCI (Payment Card Industry) current standards. Indra is experienced in the design and implementation of solutions that meet these requirements, for instance: the project developed for four Irish motorways which are undergoing a certification process by Sysnet, a certification company.

International experience

Indra is one of the main companies in the development and implementation of comprehensive and high-tech solutions for traffic management and control, tunnel control systems and toll systems. It has many references in this area not only in Spain but also in USA, China, Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Portugal, Ireland and Montenegro, among other countries.

With presence in Portugal since 1997, Indra’s workforce amounts to 400 highly-qualified professionals. The company has developed projects related to Transport and Traffic, Telecommunications and Media, Public Administrations and Health, Finance and Insurance, Utilities, and Industry and Commerce.

Indra is the premier Information Technology company in Spain and a leading IT multinational in Europe and Latin America. It is ranked as the second European company in its sector according to stock market capitalisation, and also the second Spanish company with the most investment in R&D. In 2008, revenues reached € 2,380 M, of which a third came from the international market. The company employs more than 29,000 professionals and has clients in more than 100 countries

Cintra is one of the leading private developers of transport infrastructure in the world. The company manages 23 toll highways that cover 2,841 kilometres. During 2009, it was awarded three new motorways, two of them in Texas.