The document discusses replication and interconnection of digital postal services. It summarizes key initiatives by the Universal Postal Union including identifying best practices, enabling members to implement proven e-services, and enabling international connection of domestic electronic postal services. The UPU is working on standards, e-learning, e-commerce, digital identity, and a global monitoring system to track delivery performance across countries using RFID technology.

1. Replication and
interconnection of
digital postal services
PostExpo, Hanover
World Postal Business Forum
Paul DONOHOE
Electronic Postal Services Programme
International Bureau
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2. KNOWLEDGE
Identify best practices through market studies,
to support decisions for market development
REPLICATION
Enable members to implement proven
e-services strategies and products
INTERCONNECTION
Enable international connection of
domestic electronic postal services
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3. E-learning
– E-learning platform for Posts available at
http://www.upu-trainpost.com/
– New digital postal service courses in 2010
– Every UPU member post can use these courses to train
their staff
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4. Standards
Over 100 electronic messaging standards
– 4 standards for digital postal services
• Postal registered email (prem)
• Electronic postal certification mark (EPCM)
• Digital timestamp
• PKI Interoperability Framework
– Key aspect of these standards is interoperability
of digital postal services
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5. E-identity
– Postal industry Certificate
Authority (CA)
– enable R&D pilots on cross
border authentication
– Secure digital postal services
E-commerce
– 1st ever UPU e-commerce
conference held in Hong Kong
• E-commerce declaration
– Cross border e-commerce
challenges
• Integration of supply chain –
customs, airlines, posts,
merchants, customers
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6. Secure Communication
• Postal registered email (Prem)
• Electronic postal certification mark (EPCM)
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7. © UPU 2009 – All rights reserved

8. .POST – Highlighting the postal industry
ICANN announced it is open to new gTLD applications in 2009, it hopes
to get hundreds of applications and approve hundreds of new TLDs in
the next few years
Postal operators are just one fraction of the 180 Million domain names
currently registered
UPU goal is to differentiate the industry on the internet
.post
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9. The “Foundations model” – to setup the new
digital postal services there is a need for:
– Framework : .POST domain
– Integrated services: EPCM, Digital identity, mailboxes etc.
.post
DDS 1 DDS 2 DDS n
IDS Framework
DDS: Domestic Digital Service
IDS: International Digital Service
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10. Digital MailBox and cross-border certified digital services
Sender’s Digital .Post Receiver’s Digital
MailBox or email inbox MailBox or email box
The user accesses the The email is certified with EPCM The email with EPCM is
ww.poste.it.post web site 2 by the Designated Postal delivered to the receiver
and sends email Operator of the sender’s Country
1 3
3 4
The acceptance receipt is Message integrity
delivered to the sender by the verification
system
China Post is the
Italy Designated Postal China
Operator of the
receiver’s Country
To date, internationally recognized email certification systems do not exist, due to different and
non interoperable systems between Countries (eg. Italian Certified Mail, digital signature,…)
The Digital Mail Box and EPCM technology could become the first tools universally recognized
for digital certified communications. Such instruments guarantee the sender’s identity, the
sending date, the content and the receipt of the message.
The .Post project can facilitate the spread of these instruments enabling the sending of
internationally certified communications.
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11. UPU Global Monitoring
System (GMS)
Post-Expo 2009
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12. The Vision
• 191 member countries / 650,000 post offices
• Largest logistics chain in the world
• Over 430 billion letters and 6 billion parcels per year
• One common objective - improving quality of service
worldwide
• Global Monitoring System (GMS): A measurement
system to track performance and quality
improvement
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13. The concept
• Calculate delivery time
• Mail is handed over to
• Panellist drops test letter destination Post
• Letter goes to post office • Arrival time is captured by
RFID
• Letter is sent to destination
• Mail goes to delivery office
Post
• Panellist receives test letter
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14. The Challenges
• Affordability
• Openness
• Reliability
• Interoperability
• Availability
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15. The benchmark on RFID technology
• Within Posts
– Bespoke semi-active system developed for
Posts (Industrialized Countries)
– In use for 15 years
– Proven performance
– Cost of transponders of 20 USD/ unit
– Relatively small scale transponder production
– Proprietary technology / non competitive
environment
– New experiences with UHF passive technology
in several Posts for domestic letter mail quality
measurement
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16. The benchmark on RFID technology
• Across several sectors
– UHF passive RFID systems driven by several sectors
(Retailing / logistics, etc.)
– Production of UHF passive RFID equipment in large
quantities
– Substantial investments in R&D
– Significant performance improvement
– Open standard architecture (EPC is) / highly competitive
environment (multiple suppliers)
– Consistent cost reduction (cost of transponders 0,30
USD/unit)
– Significant progress in the adoption of regulations by
countries © UPU 2009 – All rights reserved

17. The gains driven by RFID UHF
• Affordability – Economies of scale / competition
• Openness – Open standards allowing multiple
manufacturers and vendors
• Reliability – R&D and innovation / improved
performance for postal usage case
• Interoperability – Inter-operable with multiple
solutions
• Availability – globally available thanks to new
regulatory environments
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18. The UPU GMS Pilot
• Set up phase from April to July 2009
• Pilot with live test letters running from 3 August in
21 countries
• Countries from different regions under different
conditions
• Objective of pilot is to acquire experience and
expertise to facilitate future deployment
• Roll out from January 2010
• Expect some 30 more countries to join in 2010;
increasing to 100 by 2012
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19. Future opportunities
• Extended measurement within the countries
• Asset management
• Integration with customs measurement
• Measurement of parcels
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20. More information:
Mr. Akio MIYAJI – Quality of Service Co-ordinator
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21. If you believe in the future,
the future will be bright !
Paul DONOHOE
Specialist, Electronic postal services
International Bureau
Berne, Switzerland
Ph: +41 31 350 3450
Email: paul.donohoe@upu.int
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