Singapore-based Network for Electronic Transfers (NETS), a payments services group, has formed a partnership to accept all EZ-Link and concession cards on its terminals at hawker centres in the country from April 2018.
The move is intended to bolster e-payments for supporting Singapore’s vision to build a cashless ecosystem. Currently, NETS terminals are available at more than 1,000 stalls across more than 30 hawker centres.
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Under the alliance, EZ-Link cardholders as well as senior citizens and students who may not have bank accounts but hold concession cards would be able to pay for food and drinks at these centres.
EZ-Link is a contactless card based on the Sony FeliCa smart card technology and used for public transportation fare payments in the country.
NETS CEO Jeffrey Goh said: “This partnership is a significant milestone in our efforts to build a cashless ecosystem at hawker centres because we are now able to offer all Singaporeans, young and old, a ‘single interface’ payments experience at hawker centres.
“They can choose to pay via mobile phone (QR code) or cards.”
EZ-Link CEO Nicholas Lee said: “This collaboration opens up many opportunities for EZ-Link and concession card holders to make cashless transactions across the island with a single interface, starting with hawker centres.
“We hope to continue to establish similar partnerships to increase our acceptance points across Singapore and empower Singaporeans of all ages in the nation’s cashless journey.”
