A highly secured biometric supply chain solution to enrol and control the identity of the FARDC soldiers: a complete and innovative solution including many advanced features (biometric enrolment, AFIS system, ID smartcards, secured Web applications, eID cards readers…)

Brussels, Nov 9, 2006 – The UNOPS (United Nation Office Project Services) has selected Zetes (Euronext Brussels: ZTS) in order to develop a complete biometric solution aimed at enrolling and controlling the identity of more than 100,000 soldiers of the FARDC in the Democratic Republic of Congo, securely and accurately. The value of the contact amounts to $ 727,000.

From ID registration to validation and control
The innovative solution offered by Zetes leverages on its full range of People ID and Auto-ID competences as well as on its successful achievements in Europe, Middle-East and Africa. This global solution includes:

The enrolment of FARDC soldiers with biometric enrolment kits. These kits will be the same than those designed, assembled and delivered by Zetes for the voters’ enrolment in the DRC. These autonomous kits, with fingerprint reader and Webcam, allowed the successful registration of more than 25 million voters in less than 6 months last year. Thanks to these kits, the registration process of all FARDC soldiers can be quickly and efficiently completed. Zetes will also adapt the software originally developed for its kits to comply with the specific needs of the FARDC;

A centralised database administration and Fingerprint Identification System allowing to trace and eliminate all duplicates. All the data registered, controlled and stored in a secure way at local level is then transferred to a central database using various media such as satellite communications and Internet secured Web application. Relevant data for control of duplicates (unique ID number, fingerprints, pictures) are sent to a central AFIS system (Automated Fingerprint Identification System). This AFIS system will allow quickly detecting and eliminating all duplicates in the FARDC soldiers’ database. After this validation process, the customer will be able to centrally manage this database for further registrations and controls;

The production and personalisation of soldier’s ID cards. These cards will include an encrypted smartchip and secured physical elements. The Zetes dedicated card production unit in Belgium, Zetes CardS, will be responsible for the production process of the card bodies (card laminating, chip embedding, layout colour printing) whilst electronic and physical personalisation will be completed by the customer in the DRC, using a printer  server, printers and applications delivered by Zetes;

A card control system. This system will be based on the hardware used for soldiers’ registration, with specific software developed by Zetes, as well as on eID card readers. Zetes will also provide these card readers which will be similar to those extensively used in Belgium for eID card and social security (SIS) card reading;

Technical support and training services.

“This global and innovative solutions for soldier registration is unique in Africa”, comments Alain Wirtz, Zetes Group’s CEO. “This project also demonstrates our ability to master the whole biometric registration supply chain cycle, at both local and centralised levels, now and in the future, by capitalizing on proven technologies and expertise we deploy in our various European and EMEA projects”.

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