New round of ePassport interoperability tests to take place at SDW 2016

News provided by

Science Media Partners Ltd

Dec 17, 2015, 03:00 ET

London, UK (PRWEB UK) 17 December 2015 -- Science Media Partners Ltd, organiser of the world-leading security document conference and exhibition – SDW 2016 – is delighted to announce that a new round of ePassport interoperability testing will take place at a special event to be held alongside the SDW show on 10-12 May 2016 in London.

The interoperability tests (SDW InterOp 2016 - http://www.sdw2016.com/interop2016/) will be focused on Supplemental Access Control (SAC), a set of security protocols to protect personal data stored in electronic ID documents like e.g. ePassports and ID cards.

Although SAC has been implemented for some years, interoperability and conformity challenges still exist – particularly as more SAC enabled eMRTDs enter circulation, and with the introduction of new security mechanisms such as “Password Authenticated Connection Establishment with Chip Authentication Mapping” (PACE-CAM).

PACE-CAM is specified in Technical Report BSI TR-03110 “Advanced Security Mechanisms for Machine Readable Travel Documents and eIDAS token”. PACE-CAM combines PACE and Chip Authentication (CA) into one protocol leading to faster ID document verification. A number of countries within the European Union are expected to include this capability in the near future.

To perform the technical aspects of the tests, Science Media Partners has engaged the independent services of secunet Security Networks AG (http://www.secunet.com), a leading German supplier of high-quality IT security. secunet was instrumental in supporting and running of earlier ePassport interoperability tests, including acting as the technical lead in the 2006 Berlin ePassport interoperability tests, and SDW InterOp 2013 which focused on prototype implementations of SAC.

The SDW InterOp 2016 event is open to:

  • Document (booklets or cards) providers supporting SAC - plus providers of inlays and chip operating systems;
  • Document verification system providers;
  • Qualified observers – who will be able to attend the tests and gather information.

The event begins with document registration and set-up on 10th May. Document conformity and cross-over testing will take place on 11th May. This will be followed on 12th May by a session within the SDW 2016 conference programme, which will include the high-level results of the conformity and crossover tests.

secunet will operate the technical organisation of the InterOp test, but will work alongside other international Certified Testing Organisations, to:

  • Evaluate SAC document conformity according to ICAO’s Test Specification RF Protocol and Application Test Standard for eMRTD – Part 3 V2.07;
  • Evaluate document behaviour in a typical document verification process;
  • Evaluate crossover behaviour between provided document samples and verification systems.

An “Unofficial” ePassport Troubleshooting Office will also be set up to provide ePassport document conformity advice.

Mark Lockie, Event Director of SDW 2016 commented: "We are proud to host these ePassport interoperability tests. This event will provide a significant opportunity for document producers, verification system providers and governments to benchmark the extent to which their efforts towards conformity and interoperability have been reached, particularly as new protocols, such as PACE-CAM roll out."

Full technical details, logistics, and registration details will be made available on the SDW 2016 website (http://www.sdw2016.com/interop2016/).

About Science Media Partners Ltd
Science Media Partners is an innovative British publishing and events company based in Pangbourne, Berkshire. Its ethos is to provide exceptional events and editorial products with an emphasis on value and building long-term industry partnerships. Science Media Partners specialises in the area of "identity" and is the owner of the SDW and connect:ID Conference and Exhibition events and the websites SecurityDocumentWorld.com and PlanetBiometrics.com.

Mark Lockie, Science Media Partners Ltd, http://www.sdw2016.com, +44 1189 844932, [email protected]