The world's biggest Internet security company, Gemalto, was selected in 2006 to supply around 2.5mn smart cards as part of the second phase of Oman's national ID programme.
The company was also central to creating the world's first e-purse initiative in the sultanate in 2009. The vice president of government programmes in the Middle East, Pierre Servettaz, spoke to Muscat Daily about upcoming opportunities in Oman, the predicted rise of mobile banking and the sultanate's e-government expansion.
What e-services has Gemalto been working on in Oman with the government since 2006?
The first is the government programme, which is typically the national ID card system, electronic passports, healthcare cards and driving licences. In Oman we have been involved in the national ID cards project since 2002. We developed the complete system working at the ROP. This system has issued several million cards and almost the entire population - both Omanis and residents - have national ID cards.
To first register people in the civil status, we have to create a population database of people over 15 years of age. This is what we are doing in Oman. Giving smart electronic cards is good to secure information, but most importantly for the user is to have applications. Like the new smartphones which have a range of applications, our ID cards find many applications, such as at e-gates at airports.
In 2009 we implemented the e-purse. We are currently working with BankMuscat on the project, which will later cover all the banks. Once activated, it can be loaded with money and used to pay fees. In 2010, we came out with a new e-voting application for Omanis.
By the end of 2011, there will be elections in the country for the representatives of the wilayats. Every Omani eligible to vote will have to be recorded on the ID lists. They register their cards and on the day of the voting they come to vote, plug the card to the reader and check to make sure they are eligible to vote.
What are the new opportunities available in Oman?
There are new opportunities in the making. The Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) project under the Information Technology Authority (ITA) has already been initiated. The ITA has issued the tender which we have made a bid for. PKI will combine the relevant electronic certificates to identity and authenticate individuals to be loaded on to national ID cards and also electronically sign transactions.
We are moving towards the dematerialisation of documents. There is an electronic signature mechanism to ensure people's identities are not tampered with. There is also a tender floated for electronic passports.
Currently the passports in Oman are not electronic, and there is a need as per the regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation for all passports to become electronic with a chip to record data. In Oman, the ITA is promoting a lot of things in terms of e-governance, which will involve a number of future initiatives.
Are there other sides to the business which could work here?
Machine-to-machine technology constitutes another business segment. It is a concept that allows machines to communicate with one another. More and more devices, like electricity meters, will start to include a SIM card communicating through the GSM network to another machine in order to record consumption. It will avoid having somebody knock on your door asking to check your meter.
There are also applications for car manufactures where they plug a device with a SIM card which communicates directly with a car's communication centre which checks the situation in real time. This technology will not be available in Oman for the time being.
Are there e-banking and mobile banking opportunities in Oman for Gemalto?
Yes, there are. It is what we call the mobile identity or the mobile PKI. The principle is to record your identity in your mobile phone and when you want to connect to your banking site, the banking application sends back your request for authentication from your mobile phone confirming you are willing to connect to your bank through the Internet.
When you connect, you get an authentication message. You reply to this, and then you get access to the site. If you want to make a transfer, but before you do that the bank requires you to authenticate and confirm this through your mobile. There is potential for this in Oman. It is part of the PKI tender, where the bidder has to put the infrastructure in place.
Any plans to expand e-government and e-card use in Oman?
There are a number of initiatives planned, which will involve the ID card first as a means of authentication. Later on will see applications that enhance the e-government ecosystem.
What other markets does Gemalto operate in?
We have four business units. They include security and machine-to-machine and also telecoms, which is our highest revenue earner. We provide GSM operators with SIM cards and applications. Our other unit is secure transactions. This is where we supply debit and credit cards with brand names like Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
© Muscat Daily 2011
