SET-listed Turnkey Communication Services (TKC) has launched a Thai Certificate Authority (ThaiCA) service, aiming to increase confidence in electronic transactions.

A CA is a trusted entity that issues digital certificates to verify the authenticity and integrity of electronic documents for organisations and individuals, confirming their identities.

The digital certificate issuance market is worth more than 140 million baht and is expected to grow by 600% in three years, said Piya Jirapapongsa, deputy managing director of TKC.

The Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) predicts that the digital certificate issuance market will continue to grow.

The government's demand for this service is 4 million people a year, and both government agencies and government employees comprise a large market, according to ETDA.

In three years the market value is estimated at 400-500 million baht.

TKC is the third ThaiCA player in the market and is licensed by ETDA.

Mr Piya said the company targets a market share of more than 30% in the digital certificate business in its first year of operation.

He said the service helps users operate with confidence, preventing forged signatures and dishonest third parties.

The ThaiCA's issuance of certificates complies with the Electronic Transactions Act of Thailand and international technology standards.

According to TKC, the first year of the service will focus on business-to-business and will expand into letting the general public purchase certificates via the website.

These certificates can be used to certify e-receipts or e-tax invoices.

Ekkapol Promratanapong, director of public safety at TKC, said ThaiCA helps to build a foundation of trust and security in electronic transactions.

"ThaiCA is similar to issuing a national ID card to verify identity when making transactions, but it is in digital form when operated online. It is an important tool in creating new standards for Thai digital transactions," said Mr Ekkapol.

ThaiCA's certificate issuance services are divided into three types.

The first is personal certificates to help individuals have a secure and verifiable digital identity.

The second is enterprise certificates to certify the identity of organisations and government agencies, while the final one is enterprise user certificates to let employees of an organisation sign documents on behalf of the organisation.

"TKC believes ThaiCA is not only a technology system, but also a tangible trust," said Mr Ekkapol.

"This is an important step for Thailand to lay a strong foundation for digital trust, helping to strengthen economic stability, increase competitive potential, and create transparency at all levels of digital businesses, whether government or private sectors."

Source : https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/3077917