New Italian biometric eID card from Gemalto available in all municipalities by end of 2018

Italy’s new national eID card, provided by Gemalto and embedded with fingerprints and a digital photo, is being issued by 7,183 of 7,982 municipalities across the country, with the rest expected to follow suit by the end of 2018, according to an announcement by the company.

The optional card costs an average of €23, including VAT and administrative fees, and can be used as a means of authentication for government services online, in addition to serving as an identity credential for in-person interactions. The new eID is part of a broader plan to reach the objectives of the European digital agenda, which includes extending broadband internet access to 85 percent of the population by 2020, and promoting the use of technology and digital exchanges to boost economic growth and social cohesion.

Part of the plan is the SPID, a project to create a new public system for digital identity management, which will be used for everything from school and justice digitalization to electronic payments and invoicing.

The new national eID card was launched in 2016, and replaces a legacy paper-based system which began in 2001. New cards have been issued to 4.7 million Italians so far, according to the announcement.

Gemalto was recently recognized for the impact of its smart payment card infrastructure on the Middle East and Africa by Frost & Sullivan. The company also provides the mobile authentication capabilities of Belgium’s national digital ID scheme, which reached one million transactions processed per month earlier this year.

Article Topics

biometrics  |  e-ID  |  facial recognition  |  fingerprint biometrics  |  Gemalto  |  Italy  |  SPID