Satellite tolling is “an efficient and effective way” to address the global problems of traffic congestion and traffic-based pollution, according to a Kapsch TrafficCom news release that notes the company is deeply involved in promoting the technology in India.
A system that employs GPS, Galileo, and other global satellite data is currently under development by India’s ministry of road transport and highways. Its proposed solution has the advantages of “flexibility, low operational costs, and rapid scalability” combined with “highly accurate, infrastructure-light tolling adaptable to different environments, from urban centers to national toll networks.” The choice of a satellite system is ideal for a geographically diverse country like India with a vast and growing highway network.
Kapsch has successfully implemented satellite tolling in Norway and Bulgaria. Its platform “is data protection-compliant and offers exceptional data privacy protections, ensuring only necessary geolocation data is collected and stored.” The limited need for physical infrastructure means Kapsch’s installations are also environmentally sustainable.
Kapsch executive vice president Carolin Treichl comments, “In Bulgaria, we achieved the first go-live within 11 months and are now managing 16,000km of road. Our solution doesn’t just calculate distance-based charges. It empowers cities and nations to manage congestion, reduce pollution, and replace declining fuel tax revenues with a fair road user charge.”