With the introduction of a fee for conducting e-learning courses for Standard RA Agents and Master RA Agents, Swisscom will no longer subsidise the provision of identification services.
We would like to inform you that, as part of the introduction of a fee for the necessary e-learning courses (for standard RA agents and master RA agents), the RA agency-based identification service will no longer be subsidised by Swisscom.
In the early years of electronic signatures, Swisscom Trust Services introduced ‘face-to-face’ identification via the RA app and RA agencies to help companies identify their employees and customers. In the meantime, the legal and regulatory framework has evolved with the introduction of ZertES and eIDAS V2. Today, modern methods such as video identification and auto identification are available, made possible by new partnerships. These methods offer an improved user experience (UX) and are more flexible in terms of availability, language, effort and target group, making them an optimal solution for specific use cases.
The requirements for this product in terms of technical and procedural developments and regular reviews of identification procedures have continuously increased. Swisscom has provided this identification product free of charge to partners and RA agencies for many years. This has subsidised a significant historical barrier to entry for electronic signatures and promoted the market as a whole. Thanks to direct integration with Swisscom Trust Services' Multiple Authentication Broker (MAB), partners now have access to various auto-ident and video-ident procedures at significantly lower prices. In addition, the range of services offered by Ident online shops has been expanded so that signatories can continue to be identified easily and efficiently.
The requirements for this product in terms of technical and procedural developments and regular reviews of identification procedures have continuously increased. Swisscom has provided this identification product free of charge to partners and RA agencies for many years. This has subsidised a significant historical barrier to entry for electronic signatures and promoted the market as a whole. Thanks to direct integration with Swisscom Trust Services' Multiple Authentication Broker (MAB), partners now have access to various auto-ident and video-ident procedures at significantly lower prices. In addition, the range of services offered by Ident online shops has been expanded so that signatories can continue to be identified easily and efficiently.
This means that alternatives are now available that no longer require the identification service to be subsidised via RA agencies. We have therefore decided to pass on the increased costs for providing and maintaining the RA agency service to users in a transparent manner. We have deliberately decided not to use transaction-based billing based on the number of identifications carried out. This allows us to carry out large volumes of identifications with full flexibility in the design of RA agencies. We remain convinced that face-to-face identification optimally meets specific needs in special cases and for certain target groups, and we are therefore continuing to offer this product.
The range of new identification methods available can be found in the various Factsheets (eIDAS/ ZertES) be viewed in relation to the proceedings.
Alternativen für Signierende zur Identifikation direkt über einen Online-Shop
Selected identification procedures can be carried out directly by the signatory using a credit card in a self-payer procedure. Here, the identity is linked to the authentication method <Mobile ID> and can be used immediately by any partner with a <Mobile ID> connection. In addition to the SRS IDENT Shop, the partner Vizibit has also implemented another Online Shop here: IdentHub by Vizibit
Here, some of the online-based identification procedures are directly usable at different prices, SLAs and availability.
Frequent Asked Questions:
What distribution and number of agents apply to an RA agency?
The RA agency is made up of Master RA Agents and Standard RA Agents. To keep their status active, Master RA Agents are required to complete both the Master Agent training and the Standard Agent training (e-learning) once a year. In contrast, Standard RA Agents only have to complete the Standard RA Agent training every 12 months.
From 2026, the training courses for the RA agencies concerned will be priced as follows: Participation in the Master RA Agent training course will cost CHF 300,
while the Standard RA Agent training course will be charged at CHF 200.
This means that a Master RA Agent will incur total costs of CHF 500 for completing both training courses within same year.
To ensure a smooth support process, we recommend that each RA agency employs at least two Master RA Agents. The number of Standard RA Agents can be flexibly adapted to the specific requirements of the agency. If an RA Agent does not complete the required training again within the twelve-month validity period, their role as an RA Agent will be deactivated by the system. Fees are incurred when attending training for the first time or again. Furthermore, we reserve the right to charge separately for any additional manual expenses incurred by our support in the event of manual reactivation, failure to complete the training courses or initial identification of a Master RA Agent.
How are the fees charged?
The fee is due immediately before the respective training course is held.
For payment processing in the EEA and Switzerland, we rely on the provider STRIPE. This enables uncomplicated payment of the transaction directly by credit card. For RA agencies or RA agents who do not have access to a credit card for this transaction, processing can be carried out by invoice via the provider Billie with Stripe (Stripe Addon). Payment processing takes place exclusively via STRIPE and, in the event of support, this is provided via and by STRIPE. Swisscom Trust Services has no support options in connection with payment processing.