Orange selects Gemalto to secure e-government services in Moldova with Valimo Mobile ID

Gemalto, the world leader in digital security, is providing Orange with an end-to-end solution that will offer its subscribers seamless access to a new generation of e-government services in Moldova. Gemalto's solution operates with an embedded software in the handset's UICC, connected to a comprehensive authentication service platform, Mobile ID from Valimo, an open software and service platform provider, leader in government-grade mobile ID services. This solution transforms any type of mobile phones into devices capable of delivering strong user authentication and legally binding signatures, essential features to securing e-government services. At Mobile World Congress 2013, the Moldovan government received the m-Government Global Mobile Award from the GSMA for this nationwide project.

The Mobile ID programme in Moldova is a government-led project that is being deployed in partnership with mobile network operators. It is designed to offer citizens the speed, privacy, convenience and transparency of digital access to numerous government services and information for citizens, including online applications and copies of official documents. The Gemalto UICC-based solution is compatible with all types of mobile telephones, whether feature phones or smartphones. The application allows citizens to confirm their identity and sign documents directly from their mobile phones, by entering a unique user-selectable PIN code. Valimo's Mobile ID solution is responsible for the entire life cycle management, from user registration, to verification of mobile digital signatures, and connection to the Certificate Authority body and e-government portals.

"Gemalto offered an end-to-end solution that is proven in over 20 applications worldwide," said Sergiu Postica, Strategy and Development Director at Orange Moldova. "As a result, we were able to meet the requirements of the government framework within an extremely tight time-frame, and the new service was up and running in due time after the contract was signed."

"Working closely with the teams from Orange Moldova and the Orange Group was the key in meeting the requirements for high scalability of the solution," added Philippe Vrignaud, senior vice-president of Telecommunications at Gemalto. "In addition to the Moldovan government agencies that will gain in efficiency, financial services companies and a whole group of small and medium-sized enterprises will also be able to introduce e-services that take advantage of this nationwide infrastructure, providing for additional jobs creation and growth in the country."

"Valimo has been pioneering this Mobile ID technology for many years, from Scandinavia to Turkey and many other places, and we have been able to provide the right solution here in Moldova based on our experience in these other countries," commented Yousaf Ghous, CEO of Valimo. "Our vendor-agnostic approach provides telecoms operators and government agencies with total flexibility in choosing their Mobile ID solutions and UICC suppliers. It is fully in line with the GSMA strategy that aims at enabling easy-to-use and secure mobile services that facilitate the 21st century citizen's lifestyle."