News
Republic of Kosovo Introduces Contactless ID Card – G&D Supplies End-To-End Solution
August 2013 by Marc Jacob
The Republic of Kosovo has chosen
Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) to manufacture and deliver its
multifunctional, electronic, and entirely contactless smart ID cards. As
prime contractor, the Munich-based technology company is assuming
responsibility for all aspects of project management as well as for
system development and manufacture of the cards. Sub-contractor for the
Automated Fingerprint Inspection System (AFIS) and for the smartcard
personalization machinery is Berlin-based Bundesdruckerei GmbH. G&D
is also in charge of implementing and structuring all system components
necessary to support every step in the ID documentation process, from
applying for a card to delivering it. These new ID cards, which the
Republic of Kosovo will begin issuing to its citizens by the end of this
year, are among the most up-to-date smart ID cards in use anywhere in
the world.
By introducing these modern ID cards, the Kosovar government is
achieving yet another milestone in modernizing its national, official ID
documents. The Republic of Kosovo will be first country in Europe to
comply with the EU requirement that all travel documents issued from
December 2014 feature the new Supplemental Access Control (SAC) digital
protocol. The SAC functionality will also come into play with the new ID
cards,” explains the Kosovar Minister of Internal Affairs Bajram
Rexhepi proudly.
In issuing contactless smart ID cards, the Republic of Kosovo is following
the German model – giving its citizens a highly secure, multifunctional
document featuring cutting-edge technology. In addition to offering the highest
levels of security and convenience, the new card paves the way for Kosovars to
access user-friendly e-government and e-business services,” emphasizes Hans
Wolfgang Kunz, Head of the Government Solutions business unit at G&D.
A host of applications are stored on the card’s chip, including a travel
application containing biometric data that conforms to both ICAO and EU standards,
and the well-known electronic ID function that is also found on Germany’s ID
cards. When using the Internet to deal with public authorities, banks, or retailers
online, card holders now have a secure way of providing proof of identity. What is
more, this new form of ID supports the creation of legally binding electronic
signatures.
The security of the contactless data transfer is to be assured according to the PACE
(Password Authenticated Connection Establishment) security protocol developed by
Germany’s Federal Office for Information Security (BSI). This protocol was
first applied to the new German ID card introduced in 2010 and will become mandatory
for all newly issued EU passports from December 2014 at the latest. The PACE process
helps to establish a highly secure connection between the contactless chip in the ID
card and the reader attempting to access it. Data is encrypted before being
exchanged, making it impossible for hackers to eavesdrop on the data communication
or decrypt it later.
The multifunctional ID card can still be used as conventional ID and offers an array
of new security features. Personal data and biometric features such as the ID card
holder’s photo and fingerprints are stored securely on the chip in digital
form.
This major order to manufacture national security documents is the second the
Kosovar government has placed with G&D in the space of a few weeks. In May, the
Munich-based technology company won the contract to manufacture the country’s
new electronic passports.
