Opencard

This article is about a proprietary municipal smartcard in Prague. For open-source smartcard solution, see OpenCard Framework.

Opencard

Location	Prague, Czech Republic
Launched	2008 (2008)
Technology	Contactless smart card with MIFARE DESFire EV1 chip
Operator	Magistrate of Prague
Validity	Prague Integrated Transport Paid parking throughout the city National Library of Technology Municipal Library of Prague Various discounts
Variants	Anonymous Opencard Unregistered personal Opencard
Website	opencard.praha.eu

Opencard validator at Smíchovské nádraží metro station.

Opencard office at Letňany metro station.

Opencard was a municipal smart card system in Prague, Czech Republic. Introduced in 2008, the card served as an alternative electronic ticket for all services of the Prague Integrated Transport system and as a payment card for parking fees at most city paid parking zones. It was also replacement of a library card for the Municipal Library and the National Library of Technology and had benefits from various discounts.

The contactless smart card was intended for use by both residents and visitors of Prague, and was available in a personalized, a personalized but unregistered, and a fully anonymous version, at an issuing fee of 100–250 Kč.

Largely outsourced to private contractors, Prague's Opencard has been a major national controversy since its introduction in 2008. Following the flawed tender process, several municipal administrators received suspended sentences and irregularities continue to be scrutinized by the Czech police. Even after the convictions, public-private contracts were renewed. All in all, the system cost the city of Prague some 1.5 B Kč (US$62 M) to implement.

In June 2014, the municipality of Prague took over the card's administration, after the city refused to pay the previous contractor eMoneyServices a sum of US$2m in exchange for the rights to its proprietary operating system.

In early 2016, electronic card "Lítačka" started to be issued as a replacement. Opencard is no longer being issued and its validity definitively ended in February 2020.

External links

• Official website (in Czech and English)