Fime has been accredited to conduct biometric device testing for MOSIP, covering devices used in digital identity programmes built on the platform.
The accreditation allows Fime to independently assess biometric hardware used when citizens enrol in national digital identity schemes. The checks are intended to verify whether devices meet MOSIP requirements and relevant industry standards before deployment in public programmes.
MOSIP is an open-source digital identity platform used by governments to build national ID systems. More than 100 million people in countries including the Philippines, Ethiopia and Morocco have already been issued digital identities based on the platform, according to the organisations.
The accreditation is significant at the start of the identity process, when biometric data such as fingerprints or facial images are first captured. Poor image quality or unreliable hardware at that stage can affect later authentication and the accuracy of identity records.
Fime's laboratory will test biometric devices for factors including performance, Presentation Attack Detection, Biometric Data Injection Attack Detection and bias across demographic groups. Its work is aligned with standards including ISO/IEC 30107 and ISO/IEC 19795.
According to the company, the laboratory is also recognised as a NIST NVLAP-accredited laboratory and accredited to ISO/IEC 17025. That gives device makers and government buyers an external testing route within the MOSIP ecosystem.
Procurement checks
For governments, independent testing can shape procurement decisions before large-scale roll-outs begin. National digital identity projects often depend on a broad supply chain of software providers, biometric device makers and implementation partners, making third-party verification an important part of vendor selection.
MOSIP has been building out that partner network as adoption of its platform spreads across multiple markets. Accredited testing laboratories can help standardise how devices are assessed across different countries and operating environments.
Inclusion is another issue. Biometric systems have faced scrutiny over whether they perform equally well across different demographic groups and in varied real-world conditions, including differences in lighting, temperature, humidity and connectivity. Testing across those conditions can affect whether people enrol successfully and whether they can later use the system without repeated failures.
MOSIP highlighted that point in its description of the accreditation.
"National digital identity programs are sovereign infrastructure, as vital as roads, hospitals, or schools," said Sanjith Sundaram, Vice President, Partner Ecosystem at MOSIP. "By accrediting Fime, MOSIP strengthens the ecosystem with independent testing capabilities that ensure biometric devices meet the highest standards of performance, security, and inclusivity."
Growing use
Digital identity systems have become a larger part of how governments deliver services including healthcare, welfare and financial access. That has increased the importance of the hardware used to register users, particularly in countries aiming to enrol large populations across urban and rural areas.
Fime said its laboratories bring more than a decade of experience in biometric evaluation. The company operates across payments, smart mobility and digital identity, and said the MOSIP accreditation expands its role in public-sector identity infrastructure.
Noël Catherine, Senior Vice President, Services at Fime, linked the accreditation to the quality of biometric capture at enrolment.
"Ensuring that biometric image quality fulfills MOSIP requirements is key to the success and trust of national digital identity systems," said Noël Catherine, Senior Vice President, Services at Fime. "With this accreditation, we support governments and partners with the validation needed to reduce risk, accelerate deployment, and deliver inclusive identity programs at scale."
The accreditation gives MOSIP another testing partner as governments continue to build and extend digital identity schemes based on the platform. More than 100 million citizens across the Philippines, Ethiopia and Morocco have already received MOSIP-based digital IDs.