Electronic transactions group Thales is reporting significant EMV-compatible Chip and PIN terminal sales with Spanish operators Sistema 4B, SERMEPA and Euro6000.
By the end of 2004, Thales will supply approximately 70,000 payment terminals to banks affiliated to Sistema 4B, representing an order value of over EUR15 million. Close to 25,000 EMV terminals will also be delivered to financial institutions associated to Semepa. Finally, Thales has been commissioned to provide EMV upgrades to existing terminals for most of the saving banks in the Euro6000 network.
In addition, Sistema 4B has certified the Artema Mobile GPRS terminal for merchants without fixed line communications, leading to an order for 22,000 units from Santander Central Hispano.
Spain's migration plan to EMV is driven by the need to supply smart card terminals in high-risk coastal regions, which are frequented by international cardholders, particularly British holidaymakers and ex-pats.