SmartTAG (

acronym An acronym is a word or name formed from the initial components of a longer name or phrase. Acronyms are usually formed from the initial letters of words, as in ''NATO'' (''North Atlantic Treaty Organization''), but sometimes use syllables, as ...

in Malay for Sistem Membayar Automatik Rangkaian Tol or "Toll Network Automatic Payment Systems") is an on-board unit (OBU) vehicle-based device used as an electronic toll collection (ETC) system over long distances (maximum 15 metres) to complement

Touch 'n Go The Touch 'n Go smart card is used by Malaysian toll expressway and highway operators as the sole electronic payment system (EPS). The credit card-sized smart card is made of plastic with Philips' MIFARE Classic microchip technology embedded i ...

, a card-based system. It was first introduced in

Malaysia Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federal constitutional monarchy consists of thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two regions: Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo's East Mal ...

in 1999 and is also used as an Entrance Access Security.

Features

SmartTAG was designed, developed and manufactured by

Teras Teknologi Teras Teknologi Sdn Bhd (TERAS), a subsidiary of PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PMB), is a Malaysian global corporation based in Petaling Jaya. TERAS is the creator, developer, and leading system integrator of Touch n Go and SmartTAG in multiple plat ...

Sdn Bhd as an extension of the

system, initially as a replacement of PLUS TAG. It is being marketed by Touch 'n Go Sdn Bhd ''(formerly Rangkaian Segar Sdn Bhd)''. The intellectual property rights to the SmartTAG belongs to an

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

n company known as EFKON Gmbh. The president of EFKON, Dr Helmut Rieder, was the one who set up a joint venture with UEM to form Infrared Advance Technology Sdn Bhd (IRAT). The SmartTAG is currently priced at RM130 per unit inclusive of free Touch 'n Go card with RM10 reload value. This is a subsidised price as UEM has to pay royalty to EFKON for each SmartTag assembled by IRAT. Built on a non-stop Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) philosophy, SmartTAG incorporated

infra-red Infrared (IR), sometimes called infrared light, is electromagnetic radiation (EMR) with wavelengths longer than those of visible light. It is therefore invisible to the human eye. IR is generally understood to encompass wavelengths from around ...

communication that communicated with infra-red transceivers mounted at the ceilings of toll plazas to allow vehicle drivers to drive through SmartTAG dedicated lanes and pay toll without stopping. It is designed to process up to 1,200 vehicles per hour.

History

Prior to the introduction of SmartTAG, several different types of non-stop ETC were already being used in Malaysia: *PLUS TAG for all PLUS (Projek Lebuhraya Utara Selatan) expressways in

Klang Valley Klang Valley ( ms, Lembah Klang; zh, 巴生谷; ) is an urban conglomeration in Malaysia that is centered in the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, and includes its adjoining cities and towns in the state of Selangor. It is co ...

1994–1999 *Express TAG for Shah Alam Expressway 1996–2004 *FasTrak for

Damansara–Puchong Expressway The Damansara–Puchong Expressway ( Malay: ''Lebuhraya Damansara–Puchong'') , abbreviated as LDP, is a major controlled-access highway in the Petaling District of Selangor, Malaysia. The expressway runs in a north–south direction between ...

and

Sprint Expressway Sprint Expressway ( Malay: ''Sistem Penyuraian Trafik KL Barat'', Western KL Traffic Dispersial System or ''Lebuhraya Sprint'') is the main expressway network in Klang Valley, Malaysia. The of expressway is divided into three sections: the Keri ...

1999–2004 *Saga Tag for Cheras–Kajang Expressway 1999–2004 SmartTAG was officially launched on 15 March 1999, phasing out PLUS TAG at over 20 plazas of Projek Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan (PLUS) / North–South Expressway. In December 2003, Minister of Works, Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu directed the implementation of a single ETC nationwide as a form of standardisation and convenience of use for road users. The directive requires all major toll operators in Malaysia to have a minimum of 2 Touch 'n Go and 1 SmartTAG lanes per direction at every plaza. The directive was gradually implemented by all major toll operators on 1 July 2004 and marked the cessation of other types of non-stop ETCs in Malaysia. In 2004, SmartTAG expanded as entrance access security for residential areas. It was first (currently only) deployed at Ledang Heights Bungalow Park, in

Iskandar Puteri Iskandar Puteri is a city which functions as the administrative capital of the state of Johor, Malaysia ( Kota Iskandar) and represents the seat of government of the state of Johor (Executive branch & Legislative branch). Situated along the S ...

Johor Johor (; ), also spelled as Johore, is a state of Malaysia in the south of the Malay Peninsula. Johor has land borders with the Malaysian states of Pahang to the north and Malacca and Negeri Sembilan to the northwest. Johor shares mariti ...

. On 8 August 2018,

discontinued the sales of SmartTAG in favor of

RFID Radio-frequency identification (RFID) uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects. An RFID system consists of a tiny radio transponder, a radio receiver and transmitter. When triggered by an electromag ...

-based

Touch 'n Go eWallet Touch 'n Go eWallet is a Malaysian digital wallet and online payment platform, established in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in July 2017 as a joint venture between Touch 'n Go and Ant Financial. It allows users to make payments at over 280,000 merchant ...

which started its testing phase on the following month. However, LokaTAG, another authorized aftermarket SmartTAG manufacturer will provide an alternative device that will serves as drop-in replacement for SmartTAG. Unlike SmartTAG, it does not run on battery as it is powered from automobile auxiliary power outlet instead.

Usage of SmartTAG

EPS Coverage

SmartTAG lanes are available at most expressway toll plazas.

Entrance access security

To diversify the usages of SmartTAG and to attract further subscription of SmartTAG,

with co-operation from Nusajaya Land Sdn Bhd, developer of

implemented a secure Entrance Access Security for Ledang Heights Bungalow Park. Touted as the

Beverly Hills Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. A notable and historic suburb of Greater Los Angeles, it is in a wealthy area immediately southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. ...

, Ledang Heights consists of 571

bungalow A bungalow is a small house or cottage that is either single-story or has a second story built into a sloping roof (usually with dormer windows), and may be surrounded by wide verandas. The first house in England that was classified as a b ...

lots situated off the expressway to Singapore, North–South Expressway Central Link (NSECL/ELITE) and within six kilometres from the Sultan Abu Bakar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex. SmartTAG offer both security and convenience. Security is provided by two layers of electronic recognition required to access the perimeter; a SmartTAG unit and an assigned smartcard registered to the security department. These units have to be detected simultaneously on authorised vehicles to gain entry into Ledang Heights. SmartTAG and card assigned can also be used in all highways that adopt SmartTAG as an EPS. Plans are underway for further adaptations of SmartTAG in other prestigious housing developments.

References

{{reflist

External links

Touch 'n Go

Teras Teknologi Sdn Bhd
– website of developer, manufacturer of SmartTAG.
Nusajaya
– developer of Iskandar Puteri 1999 establishments in Malaysia Electronic toll collection Road transport in Malaysia