Denmark Rolls Out Electronic Passports Based on Gemalto Technology
Amsterdam and Copenhagen (ots/PRNewswire)
- Up to 800,000 e-passports to be Issued Annually
Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO), a world leader in digital security, today announces that the Danish National Police has started issuing electronic passports that integrate its most advanced Setec(1) secure technology. For this nationwide deployment Gemalto manages the entire delivery process. In addition to its renowned secure electronic passport software and high security polycarbonate data page technologies, Gemalto will provide passport booklet assembly and individual personalisation of each passport.
The agreement runs through to 2009, with an option for two additional years. The Danish authorities plan to incorporate the electronic capability in all new passports from now on and are expected to issue some 250,000 by the end of 2006. Between 700,000 and 800,000 traditional passports are issued annually.
As part of the Gemalto e-passport solution, the polycarbonate data page includes a contactless microprocessor chip running the company's highly secure operating system. The chip not only features the information identity already laser-engraved on the first page, but also contains the passport holder's digitised photo.
"As we have been producing and personalising the traditional Danish passports for the past two years, we have gained an in-depth understanding of the Danish authorities' requirements." commented Jacques Seneca, President Europe at Gemalto. "We are proud to further develop our relationship with the Danish authorities through latest generation smart and secure travel documents which will benefit to both administrations and citizens."
Through this additional reference in the field of e-ID programs, Gemalto demonstrates its ability to manage the complete value chain of e-passports. Mastering the whole issuance process enables Gemalto to offer governments a variety of state-of-the-art services that will benefit to their citizens. Gemalto's e-passport references include the Czech Republic, France, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Slovenia, Sweden and the United States of America.
(1) Setec is part of the Gemalto group (acquired in 2005). The Setec solutions include products that require extreme security, such as biometric and visual passports, electronic and visual ID cards, driving licenses and health cards.
About Gemalto
Gemalto (Euronext NL 0000400653 GTO) is a leader in digital security with pro forma 2005 annual revenues of EUR1,7 billion (US$2.2 billion), operations in 120 countries and 11,000 employees including 1,500 R&D engineers. The company's solutions make personal digital interactions secure and easy in a world where everything of value -from money to entertainment to identities- is increasingly represented as bits and bytes communicated over networks.
Gemalto thrives on creating and deploying secure platforms, portable and secure forms of software in highly personal objects like smart cards, SIMs, e-passports, readers and tokens. More than a billion people worldwide use the company's products and services for telecommunications, banking, e-government, identity management, multimedia content, digital rights management, IT security and other applications. Gemalto was formed in June 2006 by the combination of Axalto and Gemplus International S.A. For more information please visit www.gemalto.com.
Gemalto Media Emmanuelle Saby T: +33-1-55-01-57-27 M: +33-6-09-10-76-10 Emmanuelle.saby@gemalto.com Investor Relations Stéphane Bisseuil T: +33-1-55-01-50-97 M: +33-6-86-08-64-13 Stephane.bisseuil@gemalto.com TBWA\Corporate Emlyn Korengold T: +33-1-49-09-66-51 M: +33-6-08-21-93-74 emlyn.korengold@tbwa-corporate.com
Contact:
Gemalto: Media, Emmanuelle Saby, T: +33-1-55-01-57-27, M:
+33-6-09-10-76-10, Emmanuelle.saby@gemalto.com; Investor Relations,
Stéphane Bisseuil, T: +33-1-55-01-50-97, M: +33-6-86-08-64-13,
Stephane.bisseuil@gemalto.com. TBWA\Corporate, Emlyn Korengold, T:
+33-1-49-09-66-51, M: +33-6-08-21-93-74,
emlyn.korengold@tbwa-corporate.com