Share this article Share this article LONDON, May 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to ABI Research, a global tech market advisory firm, the number of Open-Loop EMV Cards in ticketing use will increase worldwide from 24.8 million to 136.9 million by 2025. With contactless payment acceptance and transactions in all markets experiencing a sharp upturn during COVID-19, approximately 150 large cities are looking to adopt EMV as another contactless payment method, which will sit alongside existing proprietary solutions, including cities in Ireland, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), India, and Russia. "The global COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a drive toward the modernization of ticketing systems in a contact-free way. While ridership has seen a significant downturn due to the pandemic, cEMV systems provide several advantages for end-users," said Sam Gazeley, Digital Security Analyst at ABI Research. "Where, previously, the significant capital required to set up and integrate a contactless EMV system had put the solution out of reach for most transport operators, the ongoing pandemic has framed the importance of minimizing hand-to-hand transactions. The ability to use a card already in possession of the end-user in a contactless format provides a safer way to conduct a payment transaction. With EMV infrastructure in place, the possibility of EMV in a closed-loop scenario will also be explored by Transportation Authorities (TAs), beginning with Sweden in 2022 and London likely following suit in 2025."