EC to issue digital IDs

The EC is to provide digital certificates to businesses across Europe, following a deal with GlobalSign, Baltimore Technologies and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Thousands of European businesses will be issued with public key infrastructure (PKI) certificates, so they can submit technology research proposals in confidence to the EC science and technology directorate. Up to 50,000 users are expected to use the secure network in its initial stage.

GlobalSign, Europe's first registration authority, is guaranteeing the security of the certificates, which are provided by Baltimore, along with other technical components.

GlobalSign chief executive, Anthony Belpaire, said: "We are acting as a trusted third party for the EC."

As well as being safe, the EC claims the network will be quicker and cheaper than a paper-based system. It is due to come into operation by March 1999.

Belpaire told Silicon.com that the EC wants to stimulate the use of digital certificates among European businesses. "Research projects are just the beginning. We have just won a broader EC tender with Alcatel, which will secure the EC's administration networks too," he said.

Belpaire said the most Net-aware governments understand that to stimulate ecommerce, they need to offer electronic services themselves.