MHI, Sojitz and VietinBank Sign Memorandum with Vietnamese Ministry of Transport on Demonstration Project to Integrate Country's ETC Systems

Vietnam today is making steady progress in introducing ETC systems into the country's expressway network, but many are calling for the country to integrate its three separate communication modes currently in service – Active DSRC, Passive DSRC and RFID^(Note). The focus of the demonstration project designated in the newly agreed upon memorandum will be on developing a new ETC system which integrates the three existing formats. Data from the new system will be collected from the suburbs of Ho Chi Minh City, in the country's south. MHI, Sojitz and VietinBank also aim, based on this demonstration project and with support from DRVN/MOT, to create a second project involving an intelligent traffic system (ITS).
"In order to meet the highest demand of traffic drivers and toll collection service users, deploying integrated solution for the three existing formats including DSRC active, DSRC passive and RFID plays an important role" DRVN said.

Presently some 2 million vehicles are registered in Vietnam, and new registrations are increasing at a robust pace of 120,000 to 150,000 each year. In December 2008 the Vietnamese government, in anticipation of the country's shift to a motorized society in the future, formulated a master plan for the nation's expressways. The plan covers 22 routes spanning a total distance of 5,873 kilometers (3,649 miles), and its execution requires a total investment of US$48 billion. Under the plan, ITS technology is to be introduced to the major expressways in order to enhance their safety and driving comfort in the coming era of motorization. The plan calls for progressive introduction of traffic control, ETC and other sophisticated systems going forward.

Applying the knowhow they will accumulate from the newly agreed upon demonstration project, MHI, Sojitz and VietinBank look to make important contributions to the development of Vietnam's road transport networks in the years ahead.

Note: Active DSRC (dedicated smart range communication) is an interactive communication system in which 5.8 GHz microwaves are emitted by both onboard units and roadside antennas.
Passive DSRC is a system to achieve two-way communication through the reflection of 5.8 GHz microwaves emitted by roadside antennas.
RFID (radio frequency identification) is a system for tolling drivers based on identification of tracking tag.