Electronic toll collection interoperability

With Emmanuel de Boutray, Director of the Development and Major Projects division in Sanef, the fourth motorway concessionaire in Europe

INFRA. As director of development, can you shed any light on the progress of electronic toll collection interoperability in Europe?
The European directive dealing with electronic toll collection interoperability targets the opening of European ETC services common to all of Europe in 2009 for trucks and 2012 for private vehicles. Among the two interoperable technologies chosen by the directive as applicable to any new ETC project, satellite-based services are the preferred technology, as they allow the broadest array of pricing policies in Europe.

I therefore believe that it is only a question of time before current systems become outdated and satellite technology becomes the leading technology and the vector of technical ETC interoperability.

INFRA. So, no interoperability before those terms?
It is, of course, possible to launch European interoperable services today. The current microwave technology used on most networks in operation is compliant with the recommendations of the directive and is set up according to technical European standards. Therefore, it is interoperable. For instance, going from Spain to France does not pose any technical problems, apart from minor modifications.

Technical interoperability exists currently, but only partially, because it is limited to those countries applying microwave standards.

INFRA. Why, where technology permits, is interoperability not already in place?
Each country has its specific legal and tax features, which makes things such as the operation of clearing funds like VAT between two countries very complex. These specific features need to be made to match on both sides of borders through agreements between motorway operators, and that process requires time.

INFRA. Do you think that the implementation of a European interoperable service will speed up?
It is now more than 15 years since microwave technology came into use, while, to date, interoperable service has been offered only in the field of light vehicles in the domestic markets of each country.

The demand for European interoperability is more closely linked to long haul heavy goods traffic, and in my opinion this will be accelerated by the integration of 10 new countries into the EU as of 2005. This is one of the reasons why Sanef has decided to create a specific company, whose objective is to provide a European ETC interoperable service.

INFRA. Will this interoperable service be compatible with both technologies, microwave and satellite?
Yes, of course. As I mentioned, this is an obligation that forms a part of the directive. Historically, Sanef has been at the forefront in microwave-based services and is now well positioned to meet the directive deadlines by designing and testing satellite based solutions. The control of both technologies gives Sanef a strong advantage in terms of proposing the most efficient interoperable service.

INFRA. With which technology do you intend to bid in response to the ETC tenders launched in Europe?
Sanef’s approach is pragmatic. It chooses the technology that is most competitive in respect of a given call for tender. My opinion is that the evolution of techniques and prices will clearly lead to the satellite being the more competitive solution very soon. This trend is very promising, as it will facilitate access to the huge field of telematics services based on geolocalisation for hundreds of thousands heavy good vehicles.