National ID projects and e-Passport programs are providing the biggest potential for biometrics in APAC today. With the cost of biometric readers declining, biometric border control security is also being implemented in many countries across Asia.Frost & Sullivan reports that the market earned revenues of $126.3 million in 2007 and estimates this to reach $1643.1 million in 2012.
The APAC market is seeing a lot of convergence of technologies and applications. It is absolutely essential for market participants to bring about interoperability and standardization in this era of convergence. In the coming years, biometrics products will be standardized and interoperable with other security systems, providing a much higher level of security.
Applications in APAC countries :
Japan: E-passport has been introduced in 2006, E-ID card for residents in 2003 and contactless driver’s licenses in 10 cities but their penetration rate is still low.
China: 2nd generation e-ID cards have already been distributed to 930 million. Seven national chinese companies have been chosen to produce e-ID cards.
Hong-Kong: The Hong Kong Immigration Department has, from 5 February 2007, introduced the electronic Passport (e-Passport) and electronic Document of Identity for Visa Purposes (e-Doc/I) which are compliant with the standard of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The Hong-Kong Smart Identity Card System (Smartics), launched in 2003, can also be used to access public librairies and E-certicate post service. PCCW Business Solution is producing these cards with a consortium of seven companies. More than 5 million Smart ID cards have been issued.
Singapour: 250 000 e-passports are produced annually by NEC and Gemalto.
Malaysia: Malaysia was the first country in the world to issue biometric passports in 1998, after a local company, IRIS Corporation, developed the technology.
Brunei: the Bruneian biometric passport was introduced on February 17, 2007. It was produced by German printer Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) following the Visa Waiver Program’s requirements.
Thailand: global project implies 64 million smart ID cards. A third and last round tender for 26 million cards production is beginning in 2009.
Philippines: On August 11, 2009, the first biometric passport was released for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The new e-passport has various security features, including a hidden encoded image; an ultra-thin, holographic laminate; and a tamper-proof electronic microchip costing at around 950 pesos.
Australia: the Smart Gate system implemented by Sagem Sécurité enables Australian citizens with e-passports to be identified through facial recognition.
And many furture opportunities in Korea, Vietnam, etc.
Sources: Ubifrance “Le marché de la carte à puce en Asie-pacifique”, Frost & Sullivan « Biometrics markets in APAC »