ANTS, France’s national secure credentials agency, has signed Atos Origin and Sagem Securite to manage the implementation and deployment of the country's biometric passport system.

In response to a European Union directive and French Government’s modernisation strategy, the passport will enhance reliability and personal security, helping to tackle fraud.

Around 5,000 data acquisition and processing systems will be rolled out to 2,350 government offices by June next year, allowing the inclusion of fingerprints on passports.

“Our understanding of the challenges involved in the Government’s modernisation strategy, and our industrial capabilities in delivering innovative technology solutions on complex, large-scale projects were determining factors in the ANTS’s choice," said Philippe Germond, Chairman of Atos Origin.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) told delegates at a conference in Brussels last week that governments should be urged to speed up the deployment of biometric passports.