According to TV2, quoting Ritsau, the Danish National Bank (Nationalbanken) has announced a new technological solution that allows citizens to pay using payment cards or digital wallets even in the event of an internet outage, for up to seven days in most grocery stores (supermarkets) in the country.
Details of the new solution
The National Bank explained in a press release that the new solution enables consumers to complete payments using traditional payment cards or via mobile phones using what are known as digital wallets, even in the event of an internet outage or a malfunction in the card payment infrastructure.
Official statements regarding the project
“We have come up with a technical solution that also allows for mobile payments – i.e., using digital wallets – without an internet connection. This solution is in line with the payment methods preferred by Danes,” said Ulrik Nødgaard, Director at the National Bank and Chairman of the Payments Board, in the press release, according to the source.
Background to the launch of the initiative
The statement also noted that the Payments Council, which operates under the supervision of the National Bank, had initiated work on a card payments readiness system in 2023, with the aim of enhancing the financial system’s ability to operate in emergency situations.
Usability during breakdowns
The new solution allows all adults in Denmark to use locally issued payment cards such as Dankort, Mastercard and Visa, as well as digital wallets such as Apple Pay or payment cards stored on mobile phones, even if the internet is not available.
Ulrik Nødgaard confirmed in the statement: “This is a major undertaking that is nearing completion after the Payments Council initiated it at the end of 2023. It required the deployment of new technical solutions, extensive cooperation, and goodwill from all stakeholders to achieve success,” according to the source.
Compared to previous malfunctions
The report noted that during the outage that occurred in July of last year at Nets and lasted for several hours, customers could only pay using physical cards if the payment devices in stores were equipped for it, while payment via digital wallets was not available offline at that time.
Scope of application of the new system
The National Bank explained that the new solution is now available in most major grocery chains in Denmark, including Coop stores such as Brugsen, 365discount, Kvickly and SuperBrugsen.
It has also been implemented in Dagrofa chains such as Meny, Min Købmand, Let-Køb and Spar, as well as Salling Group stores such as Bilka, Føtex and Netto.
The solution also extends to ABC Lavpris, Løvbjerg and Rema 1000 stores, thus covering more than 2,000 stores according to the press release.
Future expansion plans
The statement indicated that there is a plan to expand this service to include pharmacies in Denmark, with contactless payment options becoming available there by next September.
This development reflects an important step towards enhancing the resilience of Denmark’s payment system, and ensuring the continuity of daily purchasing operations even in cases of emergencies or technical failures, in line with the increasing reliance on digital solutions in daily life.
