Singapore is a step closer to commercial NFC deployment with the announcement that a group of government agencies and private-sector companies, including mobile operators and banks, are to appoint an organization next year to oversee the development of a nationwide mobile payment system using contactless technology.

Spearheading the move is the Infocomm Development Authority which first brought together local banks, credit card companies and government agencies, such as the Monetary Authority of Singapore, last year. According to an Infocomm statement, the “parties have agreed to collaborate towards achieving an interoperable commercial deployment.” The new organization will be given the task of making sure the mobile payment infrastructure works across telecom companies and banks.

Read more here.