Germany has announced the winners of a major Euro 30 million tender that will see biometric-based eGates rolled out across the country.
By the end of 2014, 90 eGates will be implemented across Germany’s busiest airports, i.e. Frankfurt/Main, Munich, Düsseldorf and Hamburg.
The contract is valid for 10 years and includes an option for 180 more eGates.
A consortium led by Bundesdruckerei GmbH and partnered by secunet Security Networks was awarded the EasyPASS eGate contract.
When rolled out the ambitious solution will be usable by holders of 1st and 2nd generation EU/EER/CH ePassports, as well as German eID card holders.
Shorter waiting times for passengers
For passengers who use an eGate, the control procedure will be reduced to less than 18 seconds.
During this time, the passenger’s identity and the authenticity and validity of his / her electronic travel document will be automatically checked. In the new gate systems, reading devices from Bundesdruckerei will check the authenticity of travel documents in a matter of seconds. In place of the border control officer, a smart camera system will compare the passenger’s face with the passport photo.
The secunet biomiddle software is the central interface in the eGate, connecting the aforementioned system components with the border control officer’s user interface and the security infrastructure.
The eGates now ordered are a development of automated border control systems already in use at Frankfurt (EasyPASS) and Prague (EasyGO).
A consequence of this new project roll out is that the existing iris recognition-based registered traveler system in Frankfurt – ABG (Automatisierte Biometriegestützte Grenzkontrolle) – will in future be replaced with the new eGates.
