From design to reality : TIS, the French inter-operator electronic fee collection system.

In July 2000, the nation-wide French inter-operator EFC system (Telepeage Inter-Societes - TIS) will be put into operation. The TIS project has three main features: (1) it is based on a MoU defining fully decentralised relationships between 8 operators, (2) it is based on a full set of internationally recognised standards, and (3) three providers will provide interoperable equipment from the first day of operation. All the 6,716 kilometre long French motorway network will be equipped by means of more than 1,600 items of EFC road-side equipment. This paper describes the requirements of the project, the constraints to be taken into account, the choices made in the architecture and the implementation of the system. (A*)