FIME, a consulting and market integration testing service for NFC solutions, is joining the OSCar Consortium, a group which aims to achieve interoperability of terminal-to-acquirer payment protocols across the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) (view press release). SEPA is a European integration initiative which streamlines payment processes to promote a competitive and efficient European marketplace. This means that for card payments, customer’s experience will be consistent when making and accepting payments throughout the Euro area. By joining the consortium, FIME will contribute towards the implementation of test specifications for the development of SEPA-compliant payment terminals and acquirer interfaces. The company will also work with the group to build a recognised certification infrastructure to confirm that products align to the functional SEPA POI standards.

“To ensure SEPA for cards becomes a reality and true interoperability is achieved, it is fundamental that the European payments industry works together to develop a central evaluation and certification process of POIs in accordance with the SEPA framework,” said FIME’s general manager, Pascal Le Ray. “FIME has extensive experience working with major European banks and payment systems to manage certification programmes that confirm a product will perform as intended before market launch; we look forward to sharing this knowledge with the OSCar Consortium.”