Ethiopia using Tech5 biometric engine, digital ID in MOSIP-based scheme pre-launch

Ethiopia’s National Identity Program (NIDP) is to use Tech5’s T5-ABIS BE (Biometric Engine) and T5-Digital ID solutions in the pre-launch phase of its foundational national ID.

The biometric engine covers face, fingerprint and iris biometrics for identification, de-duplication and enrollment. After quality assessment and deduplication by the biometric engine, the T5-IDencode platform generates a digital ID via an integration with the Modular Open-Source Identification Platform, Ethiopia’s chosen ID structure.

T5-Digital ID is for issuing and authenticating the IDs. The IDs can be displayed on a mobile device or printed and work on and offline, meaning the holder does not need a device, simply a hard copy of the complex T5-Cryptograph QR code. The individual has control over how their data is managed and used. Issuance is centralized and verification decentralized.

Ethiopia has high hopes for its MOSIP-based digital identity scheme called Fayida. Speaking at the recent ID4Africa summit in Marrakesh, Yodahe Zemichael said 75,000 people had already been enrolled in the pilot, with the goal of 10-12 million by the end of 2023 and 75 million by the end of 2025.

The NIDP trialed Tech5 solutions earlier in the year including the T5-ABIS. Tech5 has been integrated with MOSIP since 2019.

“We are delighted to announce that the first million digital IDs for Ethiopians will be issued over the coming months,” comments Eyob Alemu, Technology Director of the NID Program.

“With Tech5 as a partner, we are now ready to provide the next-generation digital IDs to the benefit of the residents of Ethiopia and move steadily towards our goal of providing a Digital ID to the entire population of 100 million people in Ethiopia.”

There have been a few setbacks in the pilot such as rumors about ID numbers being linked to the apocalypse, but the plan is for integration for banking, travel, education and other government services.

“The inclusive future, a vision which we very much share with the Ethiopian National ID, is happening today, with the implementation of a universal digital identity that is easily accessible and controlled solely by a citizen,” comments Rahul Parthe, Co-Founder, Chairman, and CTO of Tech5.

“We are glad to participate in this project leveraging MOSIP, the open platform in which Tech5 believes very much and has invested in over the years – indeed our ABIS and digital ID technologies were among the first to be integrated into MOSIP.”

Tech5 recently signed a deal with Contactable to provide its T5-AirSnap Face technology for selfie-based biometrics for onboarding for South African businesses.

Article Topics

ABIS  |  biometric identification  |  biometrics  |  deduplication  |  digital ID  |  digital ID infrastructure  |  Ethiopia  |  Ethiopia National ID Program (NIDP)  |  MOSIP (Modular Open Source Identity Platform)  |  national ID  |  TECH5