Calypso vs. ISO/IEC 15693
Comparing 2 standards across 12 specifications. 11 key differences identified.
Calypso is an open international contactless electronic ticketing standard managed by the Calypso Networks Association, operating under ISO/IEC 14443 Type B (and Type A). Developed by European transit operators to prevent proprietary lock-in with NXP MIFARE, it powers major transit networks including the Paris Navigo, Lisbon Viva, and Belgium MoBIB.
ISO/IEC 15693 (NFC Forum Type 5) is an international standard for High-Frequency (13.56 MHz) Vicinity Integrated Circuit Cards (VICC). Engineered with relaxed power requirements and highly sensitive subcarrier modulation, it achieves read ranges up to 1 to 1.5 meters, making it the standard for library item tracking, ski resort passes, and pharmaceutical logistics.
Specification Comparison Table
12 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Frequency Bands
|
13.56 MHz | 13.56 MHz |
|
Framing Standard
|
ISO/IEC 14443 Type B (and Type A in Calypso Prime) | — |
|
Standardization Body
|
Calypso Networks Association (CNA) / EN 1545 / ISO 24014 | — |
|
Cryptographic Engine
|
Triple DES / AES-128 / Elliptic Curve PKI (Calypso Prime) | — |
|
Operating Architecture
|
Multi-application secure microprocessor (Java Card / Native OS) | — |
|
Primary Transit Deployments
|
Paris (Navigo), Brussels/Belgium (MoBIB), Lisbon (Viva), Venice, Tel Aviv (Rav-Kav) | — |
|
Operating Distance
|
— | Up to 1.0 to 1.5 m (Vicinity range) |
|
NFC Forum Classification
|
— | Type 5 Tag |
|
Data Rates (Downlink)
|
— | 26.48 kbps (High data rate) / 1.65 kbps (Low rate) |
|
Downlink Modulation
|
— | 100% or 10%–30% ASK (1-out-of-4 or 1-out-of-256 pulse position coding) |
|
Uplink Modulation
|
— | Manchester coding on 423.75 kHz single or dual subcarriers |
|
Prominent Silicon Families
|
— | NXP ICODE, STMicroelectronics ST25TV, Texas Instruments Tag-it |