SPS links with Unitec Blue for LatAm IDs
Smart card and ePassport technologies provider, Smart Packaging Solutions, and Unitec Blue, a major manufacturer of semi-conductor and smart cards based in Argentina, are entering a partnership intended to boost smart card and electronic passport market development in Argentina and Uruguay. Unitec Blue’s Nanotechnology plant in South America produces and develops at present integrated circuits and semiconductors. The facilities count with high quality standards and safety protocols required internationally by banking entities and state agencies. SPS has developed solutions that allow smart card manufacturers to run their production process in a cost-efficient manner while delivering the highest quality products. SPS specific technologies include dual interface smart cards, built upon the company’s inductive coupling based E-Booster technology with a simplified process for dual interface cards. SPS offers its dual interface and hybrid solutions solutions for identity documents including eID cards, eDriving licenses, eHealthcare cards, eStudent cards and more. The new partnership covers technologies used for dual technology banking cards, eID cards and ePassports.
Gemalto embeds new polycarbonate technique for IDs
Newly launched Sealys Color in polycarbonate from Gemalto is a system that enables high-quality color photographs to be permanently embedded into polycarbonate documents such as IDs, driving licenses and passports. Images up to 1200-dpi resolution have been made tamper-proof through a laser-engraving process, which applies markings deep into the document. Polycarbonate documents are already recognized for their security and durability and now this product adds another feature to Gemalto’s range of options to better meet the evolving demands of government authorities and national printers, according to the company. The use of high-resolution color portraits is well appreciated to facilitate more accurate on-the-spot identification at border checkpoints. Additional security features include deep-set embedding of microtext in the image to make alteration virtually impossible. In addition, the new technology enables personalization to be performed independently of the document manufacturing process, so as to preserve complete flexibility at issuance.
Oberthur reaches Uzbek milestone
Oberthur Technologies (OT) has announced it had issued 5 million ePassports to Uzbek citizens. The company says it has implemented and supported a turnkey identity system solution covering the complete passport chain from citizen enrolment, data management, ePassport personalisation, issuance, document verification, border control to authentication. It deployed more than 400 enrolment stations in over 250 locations in Uzbekistan, about 200 border control stations (airport, train stations as well as terrestrial borders) and built a complete factory to host the personalisation and data centre. OT says it developed a very tailored and specific system, designed a new ePassport and successfully implemented, deployed and supported the infrastructure nationwide. To enhance the security level of the Uzbek passport, OT provided a strong Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), based on system-One PKI for eMRTD1 which offers a secure and modular infrastructure to manage dedicated digital certificates, compliant with ICAO2 and EAC3 standards. In addition, OT assisted the Uzbek government in the upgrade of its infrastructures in order to assemble and manufacture secure passports.
UK Passport Office faces up to Unisys
Her Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO) has appointed Unisys to implement its new Facial Recognition System (FRS). According to the company, the FRS will increase efficiency within the application process by automating manual operations to analyse facial biometric data and quickly identify issues associated with passport applications. Under the terms of the five-year agreement, Unisys will provide systems integration services to implement its open standards LEIDA platform, which will manage identity verification for UK passport applicants based on their facial biometric data. Unisys stated it has applied facial and other biometrics technologies to build leading-edge passport, citizen registry and land border control systems for the US, Australia, Mexico and other countries around the world. We look forward to applying our expertise to help the UK manage the throughput of travellers.
New e-passports to roll out for Belgium
Zetes has announced it started personalising Belgium’s new ePassports, having won a tender from the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (SPF) in 2013. Under the terms of the five-year agreement, Zetes is personalising and distributing the ePassports. Gemalto is providing its Sealys range of ePassport booklets, embedded with the latest generation ICAO software. Zetes is IS0 27001 certified and states handling of information about the country’s citizens requires the highest levels of protection and this standard is the only one that is internationally recognised for defining the security prerequisites for implementing an Information Security Management System. In addition to personalising the new documents, Zetes is also responsible for distributing them to government authorities. By incorporating this final link in the chain, Zetes says it will be making the entire process more watertight and further reducing the risk of theft or fraud. Particular emphasis has been placed on photo quality in the new passport, because this is the aspect 80% of counterfeiters focus their attentions on. As a result, the photo will be reproduced in multiple places throughout the document using different kinds of technologies, making counterfeiting impossible or unviable. Furthermore, the group will establish a disaster recovery site in Belgium which can take over production in less than 24 hours should a problem arise at the main production site.