Introduction

As the UK public transport landscape evolves, the demand for flexible, innovative ticketing has never been higher. Behind the scenes, the foundation of this relies on the ITSO v2.1.5 Specification - a major update designed to pave the way for mobile wallets, secure low-cost media, and long-term system resilience, giving operators different routes to fulfil the roadmaps, and passengers choice on where to fulfil their tickets.

We recently sat down with Vix Technology, one of the first POST suppliers to achieve certification under ITSO v2.1.5, to discuss what this milestone means for their products, their operator partners, and the future of seamless travel across the UK.

Setting the Pace on the Leading Edge

Achieving ITSO v2.1.5 certification isn’t just about checking a compliance box - it’s about preparing operators for where public transport ticketing is heading next. For ITSO supplier members, early adoption of the Specification moves the conversation beyond regulatory obligation and into strategic enablement. It gives operators the confidence that their hardware investments are future-proofed against infrastructure deadlines like the 2028 Epoch, a mandatory system reset when legacy minute-counters reach maximum capacity, while simultaneously unlocking the digital wallet capability needed to meet evolving passenger expectations. By taking on the complex engineering challenges of backward compatibility and early-stage testing upfront, Vix de-risked future deployments and established themselves as trusted partner in the digital transition.

This forward-looking mindset is precisely what drove Vix through their certification journey. “Certification under 2.1.5 reinforces our position as a trusted ITSO POST supplier,” said the team at Vix. 

Collaboration in Membership

Working at the forefront of a new ITSO Specification requires close collaboration. The ITSO Testing and Certification team worked directly with the Vix team to clarify test scopes, guide them through the process and address questions. This approach was crucial to bring compliant technology to market with confidence; testing to remain on track and time and proved vital during Vix 2.1.5 certification. “Having a responsive team on the ITSO side helped us keep momentum and make sensible progress when there were new questions to work through. In particular,  being an early adopter meant surfacing real-world edge cases early and adapting to emerging changes".

2.1.5 Specification New Features

CMD12 (MIFARE DESFire) has turned abstract digital transformation into practical deployment conversations. Whilst being an an early adopter meant surfacing real-world edges cases and fine-turning performance whilst configuration changes were still ongoing, Vix and the team never lost site of the guiding priority - that new capabilities must never compromise reliability for passengers.  

Mission-Critical Infrastructure 

While digital wallets steal the headlines, some of the most crucial updates happen under the hood. The 2028 Epoch DTS counter fix extends the system's operational timeline. Without this update, ITSO counter limits would cause system interruptions from November 2028. 

“The Epoch DTS counter change is the most critical part of the 2.1.5 programme. it was our number one priority,” says Vix. Epoch 2028 is a mandatory software upgrade for all UK smartcard transport devices. Equipment manufacturers and transit operators must update their card readers and ticket machines before November 2028 so that passenger travel remains completely uninterrupted.

Using the latest V4 ISAM

Vix’s latest Certifications, the Vix GADEPT POST and Vix Assure Adept and Rugged Platform Validator were completed using ITSO's latest ISAM - V4. The V4 ISAM is the next-generation secure smartcard chip from ITSO that modernizes equipment and solutions with updated features and streamlined memory. V4 ISAM provide a robust foundation that can adapt to evolving threats and security standards. Using V4 ISAMs, places Vix's hardware in an ideal position to adapt as security standards and cryptographic requirements evolve down the line.

Looking Ahead

The rollout of ITSO 2.1.5 marks a pivotal moment for UK transport. With certified suppliers like Vix Technology leading the charge, operators can transition to the new specification with confidence - knowing their infrastructure is secure, compliant, and ready for the digital future.

Find out More

Visit Vix's website to find out more about their products and solutions.