Councils in London have signed Japanese IT firm Fujitsu to manage the production and distribution of over one million new smart card Freedom Passes for the city’s 33 boroughs.

The Freedom Pass is a concessionary fares scheme that allows Londoners aged 60 and above, as well as disabled residents, to travel free on city buses.

The smart cards will use Oyster as well as ITSO (Integrated Transport Smartcard Organisation) technology and is expected to be issued from early January next year.

The Freedom Pass scheme has been in service for over 20 years.