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	The electronic identity card – a milestone for the e-Administration

	Since the 1950s, Spanish citizens have used a national identity card known as the DNI. Today, as the paper era comes to an end, that plastic, laminated identity card is being replaced by a card more appropriate for the technology age: the electronic DNI. This digital ID is the result of a multi-year project that began in the summer of 2005. The Spanish government, though the Ministry of Domestic Affairs, drove the project, which was then entrusted to two Spanish companies, Telefónica and Indra. They created a joint venture in order to combine their technological resources to create an advanced identification system. Each company claimed responsibility for a particular function. Telefónica, the DNI supplier, focused on the technical management, the maintenance and installation of the systems, and the implementation of the key for accessing the identification of each citizen. Indra took charge of the administration of the joint venture, developing the access infrastructure for documents and the public key for access to public institutions. Indra also developed the biometric devices, the identity control systems based on a digital fingerprint using a biometric pattern. This pattern is stored in a server, which guarantees the user’s access to the system and prevents identity fraud. Indra also collaborated on the printing and maintenance of the new identity document. In addition to these two Spanish companies, the Spanish subsidiary of the German company Software AG participated in the project, providing quality control. International Pioneers Spain has pioneered the implementation of technology for citizen identification. Today, approximately 34% of the Spanish population, or about 15.5 million people, uses the new digital identity card. The Ministry of Domestic Affairs predicts that it will issue six million cards each year. “Interested citizens may obtain the new card whenever they want,” says Ministry sources. The first electronic ID was issued in March 2006 in the city of Burgos, north of Madrid. From 2006 to 2008, the system was incorporated into public institutions in phases. First, thousands of police stations around the country were equipped with the appropriate technological systems, and their public offices and employees were provided with the necessary training. Since 2005, the Spanish government has invested €330 million in the technological development and implementation of the new identification model. “The new DNI is a fundamental catalyst for the technological development of Spain,” says Juan Carlos de Miguel, Indra project manager. “This migration of operations to the internet will generate clear savings in time and money.” The electronic identity document places Spain at the forefront of Europe and the world in the field of digital identity. Employees no longer have to wait months to obtain their employment record, and the unemployed no longer have go through multtiple processes to apply for unemployment benefits. Citizens also save money in paying taxes and renewing their car insurance. Explains a Telefónica representative, “The digital document enables users to conduct transactions via the internet with absolute security, certifying the identify of the user and allowing documentation for public administrations to be signed electronically.” Source: www.dnielectronico.es, Ministerio del Interior.

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"Approximately 34% of the Spanish population, or about 15.5 million people, uses the new digital identity card"

"The first electronic ID was issued in March 2006 in the city of Burgos, north of Madrid" Resources

More Information about Spanish Identity Card (DNI)
Telefonica
Indra
Software AG


	The electronic identity card – a milestone for the e-Administration

	Since the 1950s, Spanish citizens have used a national identity card known as the DNI. Today, as the paper era comes to an end, that plastic, laminated identity card is being replaced by a card more appropriate for the technology age: the electronic DNI. This digital ID is the result of a multi-year project that began in the summer of 2005. The Spanish government, though the Ministry of Domestic Affairs, drove the project, which was then entrusted to two Spanish companies, Telefónica and Indra. They created a joint venture in order to combine their technological resources to create an advanced identification system. Each company claimed responsibility for a particular function. Telefónica, the DNI supplier, focused on the technical management, the maintenance and installation of the systems, and the implementation of the key for accessing the identification of each citizen. Indra took charge of the administration of the joint venture, developing the access infrastructure for documents and the public key for access to public institutions. Indra also developed the biometric devices, the identity control systems based on a digital fingerprint using a biometric pattern. This pattern is stored in a server, which guarantees the user’s access to the system and prevents identity fraud. Indra also collaborated on the printing and maintenance of the new identity document. In addition to these two Spanish companies, the Spanish subsidiary of the German company Software AG participated in the project, providing quality control. International Pioneers Spain has pioneered the implementation of technology for citizen identification. Today, approximately 34% of the Spanish population, or about 15.5 million people, uses the new digital identity card. The Ministry of Domestic Affairs predicts that it will issue six million cards each year. “Interested citizens may obtain the new card whenever they want,” says Ministry sources. The first electronic ID was issued in March 2006 in the city of Burgos, north of Madrid. From 2006 to 2008, the system was incorporated into public institutions in phases. First, thousands of police stations around the country were equipped with the appropriate technological systems, and their public offices and employees were provided with the necessary training. Since 2005, the Spanish government has invested €330 million in the technological development and implementation of the new identification model. “The new DNI is a fundamental catalyst for the technological development of Spain,” says Juan Carlos de Miguel, Indra project manager. “This migration of operations to the internet will generate clear savings in time and money.” The electronic identity document places Spain at the forefront of Europe and the world in the field of digital identity. Employees no longer have to wait months to obtain their employment record, and the unemployed no longer have go through multtiple processes to apply for unemployment benefits. Citizens also save money in paying taxes and renewing their car insurance. Explains a Telefónica representative, “The digital document enables users to conduct transactions via the internet with absolute security, certifying the identify of the user and allowing documentation for public administrations to be signed electronically.” Source: www.dnielectronico.es, Ministerio del Interior.

.Resources.


	The electronic identity card – a milestone for the e-Administration

	Since the 1950s, Spanish citizens have used a national identity card known as the DNI. Today, as the paper era comes to an end, that plastic, laminated identity card is being replaced by a card more appropriate for the technology age: the electronic DNI. This digital ID is the result of a multi-year project that began in the summer of 2005. The Spanish government, though the Ministry of Domestic Affairs, drove the project, which was then entrusted to two Spanish companies, Telefónica and Indra. They created a joint venture in order to combine their technological resources to create an advanced identification system. Each company claimed responsibility for a particular function. Telefónica, the DNI supplier, focused on the technical management, the maintenance and installation of the systems, and the implementation of the key for accessing the identification of each citizen. Indra took charge of the administration of the joint venture, developing the access infrastructure for documents and the public key for access to public institutions. Indra also developed the biometric devices, the identity control systems based on a digital fingerprint using a biometric pattern. This pattern is stored in a server, which guarantees the user’s access to the system and prevents identity fraud. Indra also collaborated on the printing and maintenance of the new identity document. In addition to these two Spanish companies, the Spanish subsidiary of the German company Software AG participated in the project, providing quality control. International Pioneers Spain has pioneered the implementation of technology for citizen identification. Today, approximately 34% of the Spanish population, or about 15.5 million people, uses the new digital identity card. The Ministry of Domestic Affairs predicts that it will issue six million cards each year. “Interested citizens may obtain the new card whenever they want,” says Ministry sources. The first electronic ID was issued in March 2006 in the city of Burgos, north of Madrid. From 2006 to 2008, the system was incorporated into public institutions in phases. First, thousands of police stations around the country were equipped with the appropriate technological systems, and their public offices and employees were provided with the necessary training. Since 2005, the Spanish government has invested €330 million in the technological development and implementation of the new identification model. “The new DNI is a fundamental catalyst for the technological development of Spain,” says Juan Carlos de Miguel, Indra project manager. “This migration of operations to the internet will generate clear savings in time and money.” The electronic identity document places Spain at the forefront of Europe and the world in the field of digital identity. Employees no longer have to wait months to obtain their employment record, and the unemployed no longer have go through multtiple processes to apply for unemployment benefits. Citizens also save money in paying taxes and renewing their car insurance. Explains a Telefónica representative, “The digital document enables users to conduct transactions via the internet with absolute security, certifying the identify of the user and allowing documentation for public administrations to be signed electronically.” Source: www.dnielectronico.es, Ministerio del Interior.

Resources