Q-Free, a global leader in mobility solutions for smart city infrastructure today announced a new collaboration with Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (Sony) to advance next-generation tolling and mobility solutions built on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS).
The collaboration combines Q-Free’s leadership in intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and road user charging with Sony’s expertise in precision positioning technology, enabling scalable, high-accuracy solutions to support the evolution of Road User Charging (RUC) and fleet management.
As transportation authorities address rising traffic volumes, sustainability goals, and declining fuel tax revenues driven by electric vehicle adoption, traditional tolling models are increasing being complemented by flexible, distance-based charging. GNSS-enabled tolling allows road usage to be calculated based on when, where, and how far vehicles travel—supporting equitable pricing, congestion management, emissions-based policies, and long-term infrastructure funding.
Q-Free has pioneered Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling, delivering end-to-end solutions that eliminate toll booths while maintaining high transaction accuracy. Through this collaboration, Sony’s advanced GNSS technology will be integrated into Q-Free’s battery-powered on-board units, enabling precise, low-power, and interference-resilient positioning without requiring vehicle wiring—simplifying installation and accelerating deployment at scale.
The joint solution is designed with privacy at its core. Road usage calculations are performed directly within the on-board unit, meaning raw location data does not need to be continuously transmitted. Only billing-relevant information is shared, supporting privacy protection, regulatory compliance, and public trust.
Already proven in heavy vehicle tolling programs across Europe and other regions, GNSS-based charging is now expanding toward personal vehicle applications. Q-Free’s battery-powered architecture supports faster deployment while enabling value-added services including fleet management and insurance telematics.
Kenichi Nakano, General Manager, Analog LSI Business Division, GNSS Product Department at Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation, said:
Our collaboration with Q Free combines Sony’s low-power GNSS technology with best-in-class road user charging solutions. Together, we aim to deliver highly accurate and reliable positioning that supports the future of intelligent transportation and mobility services.
Together, Q-Free and Sony are advancing GNSS-based tolling as a scalable complement to established tolling infrastructure, helping road authorities and operators fund, manage, and optimize transportation networks for the future.
This article was originally published by Q-Free.
