C-TAP Versions

C-TAP Versions

The C-TAP v10.1, released in June 2016, integrates the C-TAP v10.0 specification and specification updates resulting from additional requirements in a single and consistent version and has been deployed as from June 2017. From that date all acquiring host systems were supporting C-TAP v10.1 in parallel with the C-TAP v10.0 until the end-of-life date of C-TAP v10.0. After June 2017 only terminals conforming to the C-TAP v10.1 specifications were able to be submitted for certification to Acquiris until up June 2023. The current plan is to make the C-TAP v10.1 obsolete by end of October 2026.

The C-TAP v11.0, released in November 2021, integrates the C-TAP v10.1 specification updates and consolidates all specification updates of C-TAP v10.1 into a new release of the C-TAP specifications including a next generation security layer of TSC 2.0 based on AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) and ECC (Elliptic Curve Cryptography), supporting either TSC (1.0) or TSC 2.0.. The C-TAP v11.0 specifications will be implemented on the Acquiring Hosts by July 2023. As from July 2023 new terminals presented by Terminal Vendors for certification shall implement C-TAP v11.0. From that date all acquiring host systems will be able to support C-TAP v11.0 in parallel with the C-TAP v10.1 until the end-of-life date of C-TAP v10.1. After June 2023 only terminals conforming to the C-TAP v11.0 specifications can be submitted for certification to Acquiris. The current plan is to make the C-TAP v10.1 obsolete by end of October 2026.

These releases confirm the ability of the Acquiris association and its members to broaden the coverage of specifications and keep the alignment with the supported scheme rules while also guaranteeing the essential interoperability of versions which is critical in the card transaction processing industry.