An agreement on joint development of a mobile ID network, a system allowing clients to use their SIM card as a form of secure electronic identification, was concluded by Taiwan ID Center and five local telecom companies Nov. 28 in Taipei City.
 
Under the pact, TWID and the firms will cooperate on creating a mobile device-linked verification process offering safe and easy access to online banking, commercial and public services. The participating companies are Asia-Pacific Telecom, Chunghwa Telecom, Far EasTone Telecommunications, Taiwan Mobile and Taiwan Star Telecom.
 
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Vice Premier Shih Jun-ji said the establishment of the mobile ID network is in line with the government’s Digital Nation and Innovative Economic Development Plan, or DIGI-plus. This NT$170 billion (US$5.5 billion) initiative running through 2025 is aimed at upgrading the nation’s internet infrastructure and fostering fields spanning e-commerce, e-governance and financial technology, he added.
 
Douglas Hsu, chairman of Taipei-based Taiwan Telecommunication Industry Development Association, described the project as a milestone in collaboration between the financial and telecom sectors, adding that the new system will offer significant convenience to consumers.
 
According to TWID, the mobile ID service is expected to launch in January. By permitting authorized servers to view identity information from telecom operators through a network managed by the center, the system will simplify access to online services across a wide range of industries, TWID said.
 
Operated by Taiwan-CA Inc., the center was established in accordance with the FinTech Development Strategy White Paper published by the Cabinet-level Financial Supervisory Commission in 2016. The facility works to integrate the country’s online ID authentication services so as to foster the fintech sector. (CPY-E)