Budapest, February 22, 2007 13:30

Thanks to intelligent toll payment technology, implementation of usage-based and therefore equitable toll payment is becoming simpler. With regard to the preparations for the public procurement tender for the introduction of an electronic toll payment system in Hungary, T-Systems (Hungary) and Satellic Traffic Management (Germany) implemented a demonstration road section near Lake Balaton where satellite positioning based toll collection technique is presented.

“We show in the demonstration section how convenient it is to use a free-flow type toll payment system. Tolls are automatically determined without stopping or limiting the speed of vehicles”, said Satellic Sales Director Heike Ballhaus at the event held today in Balatonkenese where the toll collection technique was presented in practice. “This system does not require infrastructure along the road, such as toll data collection bridges and toll booths. For this reason the toll payment technology presented here is an ideal solution for Hungary”, emphasized T-Systems Deputy LoB Director Balázs Ablonczy.

The approximately 30 km demonstration section runs along the M7 motorway and on nearby primary and secondary main roads. In the demonstration certain parts of the section were made chargeable and a vehicle fitted for demonstration purposes was used for virtual toll payment.
The basic technical component of the toll payment system is a minicomputer integrated into the vehicle. The so-called on-board unit (OBU) enables automatic usage-based toll payment. Unlike with the sticker-based system here the toll paid is proportional to the distance actually covered. So the principle applied is: the more you drive, the more you pay. Additionally tiered toll payment can also be implemented depending for example on the road classification, vehicle type or time of travel. As a result this up-to-date toll payment technology can be used as a future-oriented platform for intelligent traffic management systems.

The operating principle of the on-board unit is based on two proven technologies: satellite-based positioning (GPS) and mobile communication (GSM). An innovative combination of these two technologies is used also in Germany in the truck toll payment system. The OBU locates the vehicle in which it is installed with the help of satellite signals and calculates the toll payable for the chargeable sections covered. These data are sent by the OBU via a mobile communication link to a data center that regularly delivers the invoices to the users. There is no need for bridges, dedicated lanes or toll booths like those used in conventional toll payment systems. This method of toll collection complies with the European Union requirement to ensure interoperation of various toll payment systems. The intelligence of the OBU is well reflected by the short time needed to implement the demonstration in practice, it took only two weeks. It was proven that a satellite-aided toll payment system can be introduced within a short time also in Hungary.

T-Systems
T-Systems – operating within the Magyar Telekom Group with full scope of telecommunications, IT and outsourcing competences – provides complex services to about 3,000 strategic, public administration, key and large corporate customers in Hungary. T-Systems’ objective is to have a positive impact on its partners’ market activities, help them focus on their core activities and efficiently support their operations. T-Systems offers to its business partners the full Magyar Telekom Group competence. Building on this common knowledge T-Systems can satisfy the infocommunication needs of its partners with a uniquely wide scope of turnkey solutions. ( www.t-systems.hu)

Satellic Traffic Management GmbH
Satellic Traffic Management GmbH (Satellic) plays a worldwide leading technological and service provider role in the construction and operation of electronic toll payment systems based on satellite technology (GPS, Galileo). The company is working on technological upgrading of the pioneering system introduced in Germany by Toll Collect. Satellic, a T-Systems subsidiary, is working with high capacity on the international spread of the new toll payment technology. In line with the applicable requirements of the given country, Satellic ensures construction of technology-independent toll payment systems and operation of the technological infrastructure, and offers also solutions for changeover from microwave systems to satellite-aided toll payment systems. ( www.satellic.com)

Further information

Magyar Telekom
Media Relations and Web Communications Department
Tel: 457-4797
Fax: 457-4942
www.magyartelekom.hu

Satellic Traffic Management GmbH
Corporate Communications
Tel: +49 30-259-236- 200
Fax: +49 30-259-236 -110
www.satellic.com