Fees for the Implementation of E-Learning Programs

With the introduction of a fee for the mandatory E-Learning courses for Standard RA Agents and Master Agents, Swisscom will no longer subsidize the identification services provided.

Swisscom's identification services will no longer be subsidized as part of introducing a fee for the necessary e-learning measures for Standard RA Agents and Master Agents.

In the early years of electronic signatures, Swisscom Trust Services introduced a "Face to Face" identification method through the RA app and RA agencies to assist businesses in identifying their employees and customers. Since then, the legal and regulatory landscape has evolved with the introduction of ZertES and eIDAS V2. Modern methods, such as video and auto identification, are available and made possible through new partnerships. These methods offer an improved user experience (UX) and are more flexible regarding availability, language, effort, and target audience, making them optimal solutions for specific use cases.

The requirements for this product regarding technical and procedural advancements and the regular review of identification methods have continuously increased. For many years, Swisscom provided this identification product free of charge to partners and RA agencies, effectively subsidizing a significant historical barrier to entry for electronic signatures and fostering the overall market. Thanks to the direct integration with Swisscom Trust Services' Multiple Authentication Broker (MAB), partners can now access various Auto Identification and Video Identification methods at significantly lower costs. Additionally, the offerings in the identification online shops have been expanded, ensuring that the identification of signers remains efficient and straightforward.

As a result, alternatives are now available that eliminate the need for subsidies for identification services through RA agencies. We have decided to transparently pass the increased costs of providing and maintaining the RA agency services onto users. We have consciously chosen not to implement a transaction-based billing system based on the identifications conducted. This approach allows large identification volumes to be carried out with complete flexibility in the organization of RA agencies. We remain confident that the "Face to Face" identification method optimizes specific needs in particular use cases and certain target groups, so we will continue offering this product.

The range of new identification methods can be explored through the various factsheets available for eIDAS and ZertES procedures.

Our Partner Managers are readily available to provide detailed information on integrating the Multiple Authentication Broker (MAB) and to discuss tailored offerings.

Overview Table: Available Video Identification and Auto Identification Methods via MAB (June 2025):

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the number of agents in an RA agency?

The RA agency is composed of Master RA Agents and Standard RA Agents. To maintain their status, Master RA Agents must complete both the Master Agent and Standard Agent training (E-Learning) annually. In contrast, Standard RA Agents must only undergo the Standard Agent training once every 12 months.

Starting in 2026, training for the affected RA agencies will be priced as follows: Master Agent training will cost 300 CHF, while Standard Agent training will cost 200 CHF. Consequently, a Master RA Agent will incur a total cost of 500 CHF for completing both training sessions within a year.

To ensure a smooth support process, we recommend that each RA agency employ at least two Master RA Agents. The number of Standard RA Agents can be adjusted flexibly according to the agency's specific needs. If an agent fails to complete the required training within the 12-month validity period, their access will be deactivated. Fees will only be charged for initial or repeat participation in training sessions. Additionally, we reserve the right to charge separately for any extra manual efforts incurred by our support team in cases of manual reactivation, missed training, or the initial identification of a Master RA Agent.

How are the fees collected?

The fee is due immediately before each training session is executed. For payment processing within the EEA and Switzerland, we utilize Stripe, which allows transactions to be straightforward via credit card. For RA agencies or agents without access to a credit card for this transaction, payment can be processed via invoice through the provider Billie with Stripe. All payment processing is done exclusively through Stripe, and any support inquiries will be handled through Stripe as well, as Swisscom Trust Services does not have support capabilities for this.