Case StudyElectronic Toll System in the Czech Republic
When a nation renews a core mobility system, it is not merely replacing equipment - it is renewing public trust.
- Seamless national cutover: A full “generation change” went live on 1 December 2019 while the legacy system continued operating - avoiding expected queues and disruptions.
- Modern, EETS-ready architecture: Transition from a microwave/gantry-based approach to satellite (GNSS) distance charging, designed to be compatible with the European Electronic Toll Service (EETS).
- Clear financial impact: Expected reduction of annual operating costs from ~CZK 1.5 billion to roughly one third, plus additional revenue by extending charging to 867 km of newly tolled 1st-category roads.
- End-to-end national delivery: Rollout included 600,000 on-board units, two data centres, 60 control stations, 40 enforcement vehicles, and 220+ points of sale.
When a nation renews a core mobility system, it is not merely replacing equipment - it is renewing public trust. In the Czech Republic, the mandate was clear: replace a legacy microwave tolling solution after 13 years of service with a modern platform that could expand coverage, strengthen compliance, reduce operating burden, and align with European interoperability through EETS readiness.
Coverage, charging model, and customer access
The system applies to vehicles over 3.5 tonnes and today spans more than 2,400 km of motorways and 1st-category roads. Charging is distance-based and differentiated by vehicle parameters such as category, axle count, and emissions class—supporting policy goals that reward cleaner fleets while maintaining a predictable revenue mechanism.
Equally important is adoption at scale. Carriers can obtain the required on-board unit through a broad access model: online registration and 220+ points of sale, including near borders—an operational detail that becomes strategic when international freight is part of the reality you must govern.
The system covers more than 800km of tolled highways in the Czech Republic
Technology stack and compliance control
At the heart of the solution is an on-board unit (OBU) designed around three interoperable technologies: GNSS positioning (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo), DSRC for compliance checks, and GPRS/GSM communications. The OBU records passage through detection zones, forming the basis for toll calculation and billing.
Compliance is enforced through a dual approach: control gantries and enforcement vehicles supporting Customs Administration operations. Gantries communicate with the OBU, capture front and side images, read license plates via OCR, and classify vehicles using laser-based measurement for dimensions, axles, and category. Suspected non-compliance is reviewed by trained staff; confirmed cases are flagged and forwarded for resolution.
Delivery scope and operational readiness
This was not delivered as a collection of components, but as a functioning national service. The scope included two data centres, telecom infrastructure, 60 control stations, 40 enforcement vehicles, POS rollout and training, integration with 16 fuel card issuers, extensive testing, multilingual support in seven languages, logistics and warehousing, and a long-term 10-year component renewal plan. Notably, the consortium reports a complete, operational system delivered within 14 months of contract signature—and commissioned without the disruption that typically accompanies such transitions.
Conclusion
This case demonstrates what modern road charging looks like when approached as a mission: execute a high-stakes transition without public friction, deploy an interoperable GNSS-based architecture, and run it with the discipline of an end-to-end operational model. For transport leaders, the lesson is enduring: technology matters—but governance, customer access, and service continuity are what turn a system into national capability.