Moscow metro buys 2 thousand ticket machines with facial recognition system for ₽4 billion

In mid-February 2025, it became known that the Department of Competitive Policy of the city of Moscow signed a contract with Banking and Financial Systems LLC (BFS) for the supply of 1970 ticket machines for metro stations, MCC and MCD in the amount of more than ₽4 billion. The new terminals will be equipped with a facial recognition system.

According to Kommersant, the production of machine guns will be localized in the special economic zone Technopolice Moscow. BFS plans to invest at least ₽150 million in the modernization of production, with the start of deliveries in 2025.

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Фото: Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin Blog

The terminals will be delivered in three trim levels:

• The basic model worth ₽1,2 million - 800 pieces.
• An expanded model worth ₽2,6 million - 1100 pieces.
• Intermediate model - the remaining number of 70 pieces.

The new machines will run on the Astra Linux operating system and will be equipped with facial recognition cameras, which will be used to pay for services and identify passengers when entering their personal account. The term of the contract is until May 24, 2030.

Konstantin Mochalov, General Director of the Utron production company, noted that the complete localization of the production of automatic machines in Russia is still impossible due to the lack of production of some components, in particular, dispensers for plastic cards.

Irina Ostroukhova, Director of Partner Relations at RekFacis, explained the high cost of equipment by the need to ensure the protection of personal data. At the same time, she believes that retrofitting existing machines with terminals for biometric payment would be more economically feasible.

According to station maker Engy, replacing old machines with new ones may be due to the impossibility of upgrading outdated models when they cost more to update than to purchase new equipment.^[1]

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