NXP Supports the Philippines with eGovernment Solutions

Philippines highly secure ePassport and multi-purpose ID program based on NXP SmartMX2 microcontroller

EINDHOVEN, Netherlands, Feb. 02, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ:NXPI) today announced that the Philippines government has chosen NXP’s SmartMX2 secure microcontroller for its modernized electronics passports (ePassports) and unified multipurpose identification card (UMID) program. The ePassports program enhances national security with secure biometric data, encryption and authentication technology to help reduce document reproduction and identification fraud for approximately 93 million Filipinos.

According to the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the new Philippines ePassports and multipurpose ID cards will allow Filipinos a more convenient and secure way of international border crossing and access to government services.

As a global leader in eGovernment solutions, the NXP SmartMX secure microcontroller family with world-class security features make up the core component for secure identity programs. SmartMX products contain the IntegralSecurity architecture with more than 100 security mechanisms ready to support custom-specific electronic forensic features.

Unified Multipurpose ID Card Enables More Convenience and Functionality

The new Philippines electronic multipurpose identification cards, based on NXP’s SmartMX microcontroller with Javacard operating system (JCOP), enable convenience and functionality. The cards, which are issued by social security insurance companies Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance Group (GSIS), PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG, allow citizens to use one card instead of four to represent their proof of identification for social security, insurance, health programs and other government services.

Highly Secure ePassports for Convenient and Fast International Border Crossing

Filipino ePassports, based on NXP technology, are designed to be highly secure, tamper-resistant and can offer more convenience when crossing borders. The ePassports provide travelers benefits such as automated border clearance or “e-gates,” automated issuance of boarding passes and faster travel arrangement with airlines.

The increased need of ePassports is also reflected in the increase of identity fraud and the EU-refugee crisis where some countries are already reacting and implementing new travel requirements with the need of biometric passports to enter a country such as the U.S.

“The Philippines is on its way to establishing a secure identification solution which is key for a stable society and state-of-the art government service,” said Sébastien Clamagirand, senior director and general manager of secure identification solutions at NXP. “NXP is already supporting more than 120 countries like Brazil, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Nigeria and U.S. for a secure and convenient government scheme.”

About the SmartMX MCU Family
SmartMX MCU, the platform of choice for highly secure and fast data transactions, is a proven solution for contact, contactless and dual interface applications with over 6 billion ICs sold. Serving banks all over the world, from Shanghai to London and New York to Berlin, NXP’s SmartMX MCU secures transactions on over one-third of the chip-based payment cards in circulation. NXP’s SmartMX products are also the core component in a variety of digital identity schemes and are deployed in close to 120 out of 145 countries implementing e-Government programs. Used in many sovereign electronic documents, such as ePassports, citizen cards, national ID cards, driving licenses, social security cards and health cards, SmartMX-based services protect citizens from identity theft and reduce fraud via the products’ world-class security features.