Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Recently, the media have been actively speaking out about the widespread disconnection of trading terminals. Many are interested in the question, what is this connected with?!

Uzcard would like to explain the reasons for this shutdown:

Firstly, old, obsolete terminals that no longer meet the PCI DSS requirements are currently being disabled. This Standard is a collection of 12 detailed requirements for ensuring the security of data on cardholders. The standard was developed by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC), established by the international payment systems Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB and Discover.

Being a complex mechanism of interaction between various financial instruments, the banking structure always needs only the most reliable equipment for carrying out payment and other types of operations. With obsolescence of devices, many difficulties arise for working and running a business, difficulties arise in its repair, and problems arise in interaction with the software of other devices and systems.

Thus, the terminals, whose operation was suspended by Uzcard from 1 to 15 June 2020, have been in operation for about 6-7 years, while the service life of trading POS-terminals is on average up to 5 years. The procedure of this process is always standard, before disconnecting old obsolete terminals, Uzcard previously, repeatedly, notifies in writing those commercial banks that have outdated software, with urgent recommendations to replace it with a new one that meets all international requirements. Such terminals are disconnected and reflash.

Secondly, the terminal equipment itself must also comply with PCI DSS regulations. Only the timely replacement of the devices themselves with newer, more modern and profitable technical solutions can solve the problem of moral and functional obsolescence of banking equipment, otherwise the software update will be impossible.

And in this case, the procedure is also standard. Commercial banks are notified of the need to replace equipment in advance. Replacement of terminals is made by all banks free of charge. For all arising issues of flashing and replacing terminals, business owners can contact the nearest branch of their servicing bank.

It is important to note that Uzcard does not sell trading terminals; commercial banks independently purchase all the necessary equipment.

Thirdly, the transition to new software is carried out in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan from 23 March 2018 “On additional measures to increase the availability of banking services”. According to the Decree, the National Payment Operator, by 1 July 2018, must integrate domestic payment systems with the main international payment systems, ensuring the acceptance of non-resident plastic cards in the entire network of payment terminals of the country. The new software will allow the card to holders of international payment systems, such as UnionPay International, MasterCard, VISA, NSPK Mir, to freely use cards at any point of sale in the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as to use co-banking cards.