Vision-Box biometric departure smartgates deal with Australia extended to 2026

Australia’s Department of Home Affairs and Vision-Box have agreed to a five-year contract to extend the biometric SmartGates Departures Program to June 2026, reinforcing the organizations’ long-term strategic partnership, according to a company announcement.

The contract focuses on support and maintenance services, along with some innovation work with the smartgates for automated border control. The company will support Home Affairs in the implementation of several initiatives to improve border process operational efficiency. Automated border control is the primary means Australia’s government intends to use to handle an expected 7 percent annual increase in the number of travelers to be processed.

“As air traffic in Australia continues to intensify, Vision-Box is proud to enhance its support to Home Affairs to facilitate travel at the border and beyond,” comments Vision-Box Managing Director for APAC Mark Hilton. “This extended partnership has efficiency at the core of what is our mid-term innovative and strategic vision for the country, with immediate focus on Departures SmartGates technology.”

The Home Affairs departures program is powered by Vision-Box’s Advanced Border Control platform, the company says. The department and Vision-Box began working together in 2015.

Home Affairs reached a $30 million deal in August with Idemia to refurbish its arrival gates, casting doubt on the future of an agreement with Vision-Box to provide new gates.

Vision-Box has recently launched biometric deployments in India, and the company says its results in NIST testing demonstrate the suitability of its facial recognition technology for Seamless Travel programs.

Article Topics

ABC gates  |  airports  |  Australia  |  biometrics  |  eGates  |  identity verification  |  passenger processing  |  travel and tourism  |  Vision-Box