Project highlights
Our heritage.
Four decades of improving the movements of life for millions in urban communities around the globe.
2024 marks the 40th anniversary of Q-Free. Since the beginning, Q-Free has worked to create better, healthier, and more sustainable communities through innovative transportation solutions. And now, it’s time to celebrate!
Explore highlights of our thought leadership, innovation, and heritage below.
1984
Q-Free founded
Q-Free founded
The company began in Trondheim, Norway under the company name Micro Design.
1986
Commercial enterprise began
Commercial enterprise began
Work with the Norwegian Public Roads Administration to develop a better toll collection program.
1988
World’s first free flow tolling system
World’s first free flow tolling system
First multi-lane free-flow tolling system collects tolls in Norway without stopping traffic – reducing congestion and emissions, while boosting road safety.
1993
World’s first DSRC tolling system
World’s first DSRC tolling system
First successful test of new DSRC 5.8 GHz international tolling standard, led to installs at four tolling stations in Porto, Portugal.
1996
World’s first DSRC 5.8 GHz multi-lane free-flow system
World’s first DSRC 5.8 GHz multi-lane free-flow system
Delivery of the Ökopunkt system in Austria, used to toll emission-producing trucks.
2004
World’s first underground multi-lane toll system
World’s first underground multi-lane toll system
First MLFF tolling system to be installed in a tunnel for the Sydney Cross City Tunnel in Australia.
2005
Congestion charging
Congestion charging
Congestion tax projects in Sweden aim to improve air quality in urban centers by identifying vehicles to levy a tax on based on time of day.
2006
Central system delivery in Norway
Central system delivery in Norway
Consolidate all electronic toll collection (ETC) systems in Norway into a single national system (AutoPASS).
2009
GPS truck tolling system
GPS truck tolling system
Established a central and enforcement system for GPS-based truck tolling in the Slovak Republic.
2012
Web-based ATMS contract, Pennsylvania, USA
Web-based ATMS contract, Pennsylvania, USA
Transition 11 districts in the state of Pennsylvania, USA to a fully integrated statewide advanced traffic management system.
2013
Intrada for far eastern electronic toll collection, Taiwan
Intrada for far eastern electronic toll collection, Taiwan
Q-Free delivered its Intrada ALPR for the Far Eastern Electronic Toll Collection (FETC) ALPR back office in Taiwan. This encompassed a nationwide tolling scheme and processed over a million tolling passages daily.
2016
Statewide ATMS contract in Virginia
Statewide ATMS contract in Virginia
Delivery of a central solution to unite five transportation management centers under a single web-based software for comprehensive statewide traffic management.
2018
Data sharing with connected vehicles
Data sharing with connected vehicles
Gwinnett County Smart Corridor project uses Q-Free traffic signal controller software to broadcast signal data with connected vehicles at over 7,000+ intersections.
2019
Intelligent tolling in Bangkok, Thailand
Intelligent tolling in Bangkok, Thailand
Q-Free wins major contract with Don Muang Tollway to deliver comprehensive tolling solution from Central Bangkok to Don Muang Airport.
2019
ALPR tolling contract in Florida, USA
ALPR tolling contract in Florida, USA
Intrada ALPR reads up to 2.6 million daily license plate video transactions for the Florida Turnpike Enterprise.
2019
Advocating for open standards
Advocating for open standards
Q-Free campaign challenges North American traffic signal controller manufacturers to #FREEtheMIBS in the name of device interoperability.
2020
Introducing Kinetic Mobility
Introducing Kinetic Mobility
The first ATMS platform to natively unify local, intercity, and regional traffic operations in a single platform disrupts the ITS industry.
2021
To the cloud
To the cloud
Q-Free partners with three leading cloud providers for ATMS software hosting services.
2023
Superbowl LVII
Superbowl LVII
Q-Free MAXTIME intersection control software mitigates traffic leading up to the largest football event of the year at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
2023
Computing on the edge
Computing on the edge
Release of Velocity ARM processor makes Q-Free the first to offer an entirely ARM-based traffic signal controller for boosted power at the edge.
2023
Investing in excellence: Q-Free's new Guardian
Investing in excellence: Q-Free's new Guardian
Guardian Smart Infrastructure Management joins Rieber and Søn AS to acquire all shares of Q-Free and take the company private, shifting focus to long-term innovation and growth.
2024
To forty more
To forty more
Q-Free marks forty years as a leading innovator in ITS.