London authorities are being urged to adopt a common standard for the introduction of smartcards, to enable the adoption of a single London-wide card.

London Connects, which works with councils, health authorities, emergency services and education bodies to develop e-government services, last week launched a vision for smartcards to allow citizens access to council services.

A common standard and base platform for councils to introduce smartcards replaces plans for a single card.

London Connects spokesman Nick Tjaardstra says the eventual plan is to introduce a single smartcard to access council services such as leisure, parking and libraries. But many authorities are already introducing their own cards.

‘With boroughs doing their own thing we want to ensure a common standard and interoperability,’ he said. ‘We may not have all applications on one card, but it will allow us to move towards a single card.’

London Connects has ordered 50,000 smartcards for early adopters of the technology and wants other boroughs to use the same standard. Kingston will introduce the smartcards to its library in March.

Butler Group senior research analyst Sarah Burnett says London Connects needs to involve as many local authorities as possible to ensure economies of scale.

‘The more applications on a card, the more likely people are to sign up and this will help to pay for the cards,’ she said.

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