Mauritius is set to become the first African country to implement a fully interoperable digital identity wallet after announcing a new partnership with Thales.
Details
Thales, a joint venture that includes domestic IT company Harel Mallac Technologies (HMT) will develop a digital identity system based on the Thales platform, in service of the country’s 2030 digital transformation strategy.
The new card will only be available to people aged 18 or 60, to those replacing lost or damaged cards and to people changing their name by marriage or court order.
Digging deeper
During a 10-year contract, Thales will provide key components, including a modular Identity Management System for electronic identity card issuance and one Digital ID wallet for mobile devices.
Citizens will be able to register for digital identity in person at designated registration centers or remotely through a digital channel.
Thales says the Digital ID Wallet will eventually include not only a virtual version of the Mauritian national ID, but additional digital documents, including birth and marriage certificates, which users will be able to share electronically or show in person when needed.
Citizens will be able to use their digital identities to access government e-services and sign digital documents online.
What they say
“With this application, by combining ID cards and digital ID, Mauritius takes full advantage of the best of both worlds, offering the optimal combination of security and convenience“, says Youzec Kurpvice president of Identity and Biometrics Solutions at Thales.
“The new Mauritius ID system is one of the most advanced and marks the first implementation of a fully interoperable Digital ID Wallet in Africa, according to international ISO standards. This places Mauritius among the leading countries in identity solutions worldwide.”
Because this matters
For Mauritius, the digital identity project will help transform it into a high-income, innovation-driven economy in line with its 2030 digital strategy.
First announced in 2018, the plan focuses on improving digital infrastructure with broad broadband access, implementing integrated e-government services and promoting a vibrant digital economy by supporting start-ups and technology investments.
Source: Find Biometrics
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