A European project has discovered how to increase the data transfer rate between electronic ID documents and readers. Therefore, the future use of electronic ID documents on the Internet is becoming a reality. In addition, the technology developed will also cut administrative expenses, boost the level of security of future electronic ID cards and passports, speed up data transfer between ID document and reader device, and make it easier for users to use electronic services.

The BIOP@SS project have discovered how to increase the data transfer rate between electronic ID documents and readers: the rate jumped to 6.8 megabits (Mbit) per second from 848 kilobits (kbit) per second. Moreover, the rate could theoretically increase to a maximum of 12 Mbit/second according to the researchers. Thanks to the chip card operating system developed by this European team of researchers the future use of electronic ID documents on the Internet is becoming a reality.

The BIOP@SS project, which was supported by the EUREKA network, developed a card operating system and security software for the personal computers that users (public authorities and the general public) need to surf the Internet. Developing the system and software helped further bolster the security chips and their encryption technologies.

The technologies developed by this project will also cut administrative expenses, boost the level of security of future electronic ID cards and passports, speed up data transfer between ID document and reader device, and make it easier for users to use electronic services. However, Europeans are still reluctant in conducting online transactions. The European Commission has supported these practices and has decided to tackle the low levels of consumer and business confidence in online transactions several times. One of this initiatives was an open consultation on how eSignatures and eIdentification can enhance EU Digital Single Market, which was open until April.