Paperless ticketing tested in Belgium

Belgian ticketing software company GVA has announced the development of an online application which Belgian football (soccer) supporters will soon be able to order tickets online with their electronic identity card (eID).

More than a decade ago every Belgian over 12 was required to get an eID. BVA has created software for fans to be able to order tickets online by putting their eID in the card reader of his/her computer and secure his/her place in the stadium. The data is then stored in a database. On match day, the fan simply takes his eID card to the game and runs it through another card reader at the entrance to the stadium.

The system will be tested over the course of four upcoming football matches but only two dates have been fixed: Charleroi on 30 January at Lokeren and Club Brugge on 6 March against Roeselare. The two other competitions are not yet determined. After these matches, the system will be further evaluated.

Belgian Minister of ICT, Vincent van Quickenborne is enthusiastic.

"This new application is a great example of how the eID is moving business forward ". He also pointed out that the new system, the use of paper, and is strongly reduced and illegal tickets resale can be better controlled.

The Belgian eID is the electronic key to more than 600 e-applications on the Internet (source: Fedict October 2008).

Numerous public services are now available on-line and procedures that would have taken hours (requesting a birth certificate, etc ) now take a matter of seconds.

Agreements with other public and private services such as CertiPost (a joint-venture of the Belgian Post and Belgacom) and software suppliers such as Microsoft and Adobe, allow citizens to send electronically signed letters, pdf documents and contracts, or pay their bills on-line.

Read the original story on EUTicketNews.com.