Q-Free, a global leader in tolling and traffic management technology, announced that the company has been awarded a three-year, multi-million dollar/euro contract to supply 2.4 million tolling transponders to Via Verde Portugal, one of Europe’s largest providers of transponders and onboard units (OBUs).
Under the agreement, Q-Free will deliver interoperable devices designed to function seamlessly across toll roads in Portugal, Spain, and France.
Portugal has a long tolling history and is where Via Verde launched the world’s first integrated, multilane free-flow electronic toll collection system. With high market penetration, Via Verde’s widely adopted dedicated short-range communication (DSRC) transponders go far beyond tolling, enabling seamless payments for parking, drive-through services, ferries, vehicle inspections, and more. Q-Free’s transponders are ideally suited for these applications, featuring a long battery life built to support high-frequency daily transactions, reliably and accurately. Having been the incumbent provider for the last three years, this new competitively bid agreement extends Q-Free’s long-term business partnership with Via Verde for another three years.
Fredrik Nordh, EVP of Tolling for Q-Free, says the agreement has been years in the making.
Fredrik Nordh said:Portugal is a key tolling market for Q-Free, and we’ve worked hard to establish and maintain our relationship with Via Verde. This project validates that work and our success.
A Winning Relationship – Trust, Reliability & Sustainability
The two companies first established their partnership more than 20 years ago. Throughout their history together, the percentage of Q-Free products returned for warranty issues has been extremely low, and Via Verde cited reliability as a factor in their decision to award this contract. They also acknowledged Q-Free’s commitment to sustainability, specifically in manufacturing and product packaging, logistics, and operations, as well as the company’s ability to potentially recycle and service transponders inside Portugal.
The Value of Collaboration
Q-Free CEO Mark Talbot says the agreement defines the company’s commitment to its clients and customers.
Mark Talbot said:As a global solutions company, we’re particularly excited to expand our work with Via Verde. We share common values and understand the importance of true collaboration. I believe our relationship could set a standard for partnerships in the future.
