Accelerating digital payments through Jordan’s first transit payment ecosystem
February 16, 2023 | By Adam Jones
Mastercard has been an architect of innovative urban mobility solutions and transformative transit experiences for over a decade. As public transport is often one of the areas where cash is used the most, we are keen to advance digitalization in this space by offering innovative alternatives to cash payments.
In Jordan, Mastercard has partnered with the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) and Network International to roll out the first transit payment ecosystem in its capital city Amman. The new ecosystem, powered by Mastercard’s Payment Gateway Services (MPGS), will enable seamless digital payments across the municipality-operated public transport network.
Our contactless transit solutions currently keep over 250 cities moving, and Amman is the latest addition to our network. The collaboration will enable seamless and cashless ticketing for Amman’s public transport users
Amman is a city of more than five million inhabitants, governed by GAM. Spanning around 800 sq km, Greater Amman is the largest urban area in Jordan and home to 50% of the country’s population. In addition, it is surrounded by several large cities, such as Zarqa, Salt, and Madaba.
Amman’s public transport consists of three key systems – Amman Bus, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), and privately owned public buses. The new payment ecosystem will cover the first two networks.
With plans to carry more than 315,000 passengers per day, Amman’s BRT will be the centrepiece of a fully integrated and hierarchical public transport network. The intercity system will also connect the capital with Zarqa and Irbid, Jordan’s second and third most populous cities respectively.
Increased public transport usage helps reduce the number of cars on the road and thereby the amount of emissions they generate. GAM’s efforts seek to improve air quality, promote sustainable lifestyles, contribute to environmental protection, and support the Amman Climate Action Plan (CAP) that sets out a pathway towards net-zero emissions by 2050.
