التكنولوجيا وأخبارها بوابة الإمارات لتكنولوجيا المعلومات والإتصالات
High Tech to Offer Thai Citizens One of the World’s Most Secure E-Passports
- The DGM Consortium, which comprises Thales, has successfully delivered the next generation of e-passports to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of Thailand.
- Launched on the 8th of July and commemorated on the 5th of August through an official inauguration ceremony, the latest e-passport includes enhanced security features such as embedded biometric data and an embossed signature.
- 15 million technologically-advanced and high-security e-passports will be delivered to Thai citizens over the next seven years.
Even though the COVID-19 health crisis has been severely
disrupting the global travel industry, in the past few
months the DGM Consortium has continued its close
collaboration with MOFA. Global teams were working
remotely to deliver the project, supporting the Thai
Government’s ‘Thailand 4.0’ vision to develop an
innovative, digital economy.
The new Thai e-passport project was delivered on the 8th
of July to MOFA and launched in an official inauguration
ceremony conducted on the 5th of August in the presence
of Minister Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Thailand.
The Thai e-passport project is one of the largest passport
programs for Thales worldwide, as it aims to provide Thai
citizens superior technology and the highest possible level
of security in a travel document.
The newly designed 64-page biometric travel document
includes an e-Cover and a thin, flexible data page made of
polycarbonate material. The reverse side of the data page
features a high definition, true color UV picture of one of
Bangkok’s most iconic landmarks, the Wat Arun temple.
The security features visible on the data page include an
additional secondary image of the citizen perforated in the
semi-transparent window; as well as the traditional Thai
four-petal lotus symbol, the line-pra-jum-yam, embossed
using Thales’ Secure Surface technology.
Designed to counter new types of forgeries, Thales Secure
Surface provides optical elements with light reflective and
animation effects revealed by tilting a document in
different angles. This visible security feature allows fast
and efficient verification by border authorities.
An additional perceptible feature is the tactile signature of
the citizen embossed on the data page. Biometric data is
securely embedded into the passport chip using Thales’
secure embedded software. This software provides strong
security for identification and protection of citizens’
privacy.
The technological features of the passport ensures secure
and fast border crossing, while complying with all relevant
data protection laws in Thailand and is fully compliant to
the highest security standards recommended by the
International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Since the project’s inception, Thales has trained 250 local
experts in its passport issuance technologies. Over the next
seven years, Thales will be operating know-how transfer
and upskilling more than 500 Thai nationals in its
technologies, thus significantly contributing to the local
economy.
Thales has been a dedicated partner to Thailand for almost
50 years in industry sectors ranging from defence to air
traffic management and ground transportation. Aligning
with this vision Thales will henceforth be providing its
digital identity and biometrics expertise to the Thai Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, making the Group their trusted partner
as they deliver a highly-secure and modern passport for
their citizens.
“I am delighted that Thales has successfully delivered this
new generation passport to Thai citizens and helped the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) strengthen homeland
protection and safeguard their citizens’ identities.
Throughout the last few months amidst the global COVID-
19 pandemic, we have continued our close collaboration
with MOFA and worked tirelessly to deliver this milestone.
Thai citizens now possess one of the world’s most
sophisticated e-passports that integrate biometrics and
other high-security features that will provide a seamless
and secure travel experience. We will continue to build
local expertise in passport issuance with training and
transfer-of-technology aligned with our commitment to
upskilling the Thai workforce as Thailand moves towards a
digital future.” Massimo Marinzi, Country Director, Thales in
Thailand
