Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 25 / Trend H. Valiyev /
Azerbaijani mobile operators have been involved in the e-digital signature issuance project, director of the Information Calculation Centre under the Azerbaijani Communication and IT Ministry Nail Mardanov told Trend today.
Mardanov said that the matter rests in using e-digital signature in GSM networks. The opportunity of using Sim-cards with special cryptographic features is being considered.
An important aspect in this issue is the organisation which will install the application in Sim-cards. That is whether it will be installed by the certification centre, or by the operator.
"Today, the e-digital signature is being delivered by SMART cards," he said. "Their function is identical to ordinary Sim-cards used in operators' networks. New Sim-cards have been already used in the world. We are testing them. If the operators give out these Sim-cards, besides recording a subscriber's phone number, they will also have to install the application to generate the e-keys. Further, the procedure of e-digital signature obtaining is identical to the way of its issuance. That is, the user will need to fill in application form to get a pin-code which will be identified in the operators' networks."
A code will be used to generate keys through a specially designed application that will need to be downloaded to the device (smartphone or tablet). Distribution will be available on the e-imza.az. website. The application will ensure a request for receiving a certificate directly to the registration centre. Then, the digital signature can be used through an existing principle.
Using devices capable of reading the information about the e-digital signature from SMART cards is another way of using the existing e-digital signature from mobile phones and tablet computers.
"The matter also rests in mobile card readers (USB, 5pin, and 3.5 mm), which is still in its early stages in the world," he said. "One can buy them in world online stores. Soon we will present a list of devices that have been tested and approved for use at the website. In the future, these devices will be more widely used. In case of great demand, they will appear in the computer equipment stores."
The Information Calculation Centre will begin giving mobile authentication certificates to all those concerned. The matter rests in the two-factor authentication. This means that a user must enter a password and have a certain device or programme confirming the right to the information. Online-banking is a classic example. It is necessary to enter a password and a one-time code sent by SMS, or generated by a special programme on the computer to confirm the transaction.
The process of issuing e-digital signature certificates for use in mobile devices will begin up till March 1. At present, it is necessary to implement the organisational structure with the registration centres located in Baku and the regions.
