​The VIVA System

A flexible ecosystem for interoperable ticketing

Nowadays, 27 operators are connected to the VIVA System, which is based on open standards for the actors of mobility ecosystem.

​As show in figure it has a decentralized architecture, independent of technology providers and for whom interoperability guidelines are provided from the start.

 TML - Transportes Metropolitanos de Lisboa is the central service provider in Lisbon and a founding member of CNA - Calypso Networks Association.

The mandatory use of a common Data Model and embedded API in the basis of Lisbon's interoperable VIVA System and the definition of a common standard to all operators to interpret card data provides an abstraction of the reader and card protocols and allows the integration of new readers, cards and SAMs in a easy way and with reduced costs and development times.

The VIVA Data Model covers all existing modes and tariffs and enforces the adoption of a single 'VIVA' card for all.

The System also supports an automatic sales network access common to all transport operators. The network includes ATMs, online sales, resealers, internet/serviced sales offices and banking cards.

In fact, being know as a pioneer in ticketing systems, TML has led an innovative projects, however, for the few years, the urban transport sector is being shaken by several trends associated with digitalization, e.g. widespread connectivity, open data, Mobility-as-a-service or sharing economy.

With more than 20 years of experience, the current ticketing system used in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area is generally still based on contactless cards, neither being technically prepared for other current contactless technologies nor for new digital technologies that have being developed to smartphones.

The Mobil.T projects seeks exactly to provide the current ticketing systems with ability to interact with other communication tecnhologies in parallel.