NEWS
IN Groupe unveils Seychelles ’ new biometric passport
This contract also includes the supply of the national ICAO PKI and nPKD ( Public Key Directory ).
The new electronic passport incorporates a polycarbonate data page , combining a transparent window and a DID Shape holographic device , an electronic chip in the eCover containing biographical and biometric data and includes the digital signature , an important feature that ensures the link with the issuing authority , making it one of the most advanced on the African continent .
IN Groupe ’ s team supported the local authorities in setting up the data collection and processing system . It also helped to ensure a transfer of skills in order to make the client autonomous in the management of the personalisation of the passports .
IN Groupe has been a partner of the Seychelles government for over 20 years and has won the latest tender launched by the country for the production of its new biometric passports and their issuing system .
Errol Fonseka , Minister of Home Affairs , said the introduction of an electronic biometric passport in Seychelles should increase the level of border security by making fraud detection more efficient .
According to Henley Passport Index , the Seychelles passport is now ranked number one in Africa and 28th in the world in terms of ease of travel to other countries .
Vantage Data Centers announces second campus in Johannesburg
Vantage Data Centers , a leading global provider of hyperscale data centre campuses , has announced the construction of a second campus ( JNB2 ) in Johannesburg , South Africa .
The JNB2 Isando campus is strategically located in Ekurhuleni , the greater Johannesburg Metropol ’ s trade and industry hub and approximately 17km from Vantage ’ s growing JNB1 Midrand campus . JNB2 is sited near the OR Tambo International Airport and less than two km from the NAPAfrica neutral Internet eXchange in a region that serves as the cloud on-ramp for a number of large technology companies .
“ South Africa continues to be a cornerstone for Vantage ’ s EMEA growth outside of continental Europe ,” said Antoine Boniface , President , Vantage Data Centers , EMEA . “ Investing in a second campus is a testament to our commitment to the region and our customers who have business requirements to be in this high-demand market .”
The first building of the JNB2 campus will consist of a 20MW 355,000 sqft ( 33,000 square meters ) two-storey data centre and will be operational in mid-2024 .
Many features of JNB2 are based on Vantage ’ s standardised campus blueprint , emphasising sustainable construction practices . This includes offering renewable energy options through a recent Power Purchase Agreement with SolarAfrica , limiting carbon footprints , maintaining energy efficient operations with an industry-leading Power Usage Effectiveness ( PUE ) and minimising the use of water .
14 INTELLIGENTCIO AFRICA www . intelligentcio . com