International. HID Global®, a world leader in secure identification solutions, has expanded its family of secure electronic data pages in polycarbonate (PC), which forms the basis of today's high-security e-passports. The data pages, now available in standard (800μm) and ultra-thin (600μm) are some of the thinnest in the industry, allowing governments to issue thinner e-passports or incorporate security levels on either side of the data page to make them virtually impossible to falsify.
The company's thin data pages include its patented crack prevention feature that prolongs the life of the page by incorporating RFID (radio frequency identification) chips. Page security is enhanced by HID Global's renowned counterfeit-proof assembly technology, as well as a wide selection of additional security features, such as laser engravings to reduce incidents of vandalism and fraud.
Easily customizable data pages with unique antenna designs are available with a wide selection of contactless integrated circuits (ICs) from leading chip suppliers. They are also compatible with all passport manufacturing equipment and other formats, as required by customers. Images on data pages can be customized to fit local, regional, and national design requirements.
"As a leading independent provider of secure contactless polycarbonate data pages, HID Global is committed to providing governments with the most secure data page options possible for their e-passport programs," said Robert Haslam, vice president, Government ID Solutions division, HID Global.
"The demand for e-passports continues to grow and right now we are one of the few providers in the world to offer an ultra-thin data page along with all the other components that are required for a complete solution that ensures the best possible experience for travelers carrying identity documents."
According to Technavio, a firm specializing in market research, from 2014 to 2019 the visa and e-passport market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30.17 percent. Unlike traditional passports, e-passports include an IC hosted on the back cover or on the data page.
The data stored in this circuit is also presented visually on the passport data page and both are checked against each other and with the traveler to achieve secure identification. The contactless technology of smart cards protects citizens' personal information and provides greater security to the passport, as it has several levels of security on each side of the data page for optimal protection against duplication.
HID Global's data pages are fully compliant with ICAO standards and were recently recognized for their valuable contributions to the award-winning Irish e-passport program. HID Global, the only provider that allows companies to create their own end-to-end solutions (including embeddings), also offers the industry's greatest flexibility in terms of data page configuration, integration options and customization capabilities to meet unique needs, supported by a wide range of design services.
