Gemalto Selected for Electronic Passport Roll Out in Slovenia
10-year contract for intelligent devices to be embedded in the citizens’ e-passports
Amsterdam / Ljubljana, July 6, 2006–Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO), a world leader in digital security, today announces it will provide the technology to be used in electronic passports for Slovenian citizens. Under the contract, Gemalto will supply the secure polycarbonate devices embedding its advanced secure electronic passport software technology to Cetis, Slovenia’s leader in security document printing. One million passports are currently in use in Slovenia and the government intends to roll out the first electronic passports as from end of August this year.
The contract involves 600,000 devices to be supplied by 2016. Gemalto has already delivered a first batch of 50,000 products to Cetis, who will deploy the corresponding number of e-passports by year’s end.
In Slovenia, which has approximately 2 million inhabitants, citizens of all ages travelling abroad must carry a personal ID or passport. By migrating to chip-enabled travel documents, Slovenia is complying with the European Union’s mandate requiring its member states to adopt the technology by August 2006.
The technology provided by Gemalto includes a highly secure operating system with advanced cryptographic features running on a large capacity contactless chip. Gemalto’s solution is designed to support governments and its secure printing agencies and partners in their migration to chip-enabled passports. This complete program also includes assistance to booklet machine manufacturers and national printing offices in mass producing and personalizing electronic passports using the industry leader’s experience in security.
“With Gemalto’s technology, Cetis will be able to achieve distribution of electronic passports that offer the highest levels of security,” commented Jacques Seneca, President Europe at Gemalto. “This new success reinforces Gemalto’s position as a major player in the field of e-ID programs, and further strengthens Gemalto’s presence in Central Europe.”