Carrier interface development phase
This page explains the carrier interface development phase, which includes building and testing the interface(s) to provide the passenger and crew data required for the e-Borders programme.
Interface building phase
As a carrier, you will be required to build as many interfaces as necessary to ensure you provide the data for all passengers and crew going in and out of the United Kingdom. Once registered, you will receive a technical data pack containing relevant information to support the building of the interface(s).
Standalone testing phase
Testing assesses the quality of any system involved in the e-Borders programme before it can enter live service. It does this by simulating the way it will work when in live service, and comparing expected results with actual results.
During this phase you will be required to test each interface you have selected. You must do this within your own environment. We expect you to:
- perform standalone testing of your system before interfacing with e-Borders;
- test your system thoroughly;
- test your system comprehensively across the supporting systems you believe it is necessary to test;
- test your system adequately to ensure it is ready for certification and operations;
- be ultimately responsible for all activities up to the point at which you wish to send data across to the e-Borders interface.
Before you can test your interface(s) by connecting to the e-Borders system, you will have to give us evidence of successful standalone testing. Once you have successfully tested your system with the e-Borders system, you can start the certification phase.
You should test the security encryption of your system (known as the public key infrastructure or PKI) before you arrange a certification test.
Terms explained
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Certification
The process a carrier's interface must undergo after testing, to ensure it is ready to go into service and connect with our e-Borders system.
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Interface
An interface is a standard and secure way to transfer information from carrier systems to our e-Borders systems. Each interface will have its own method of transport and encryption.
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Standalone testing
The tests a carrier must perform on its interface with our e-Borders systems before we will allow it to connect to our systems.
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e-Borders
e-Borders is the name of a programme we have set up to introduce electronic border control to the United Kingdom by 2014. It will collect and analyse passenger and crew information provided electronically by carriers (airlines, rail and shipping companies) before travel starts on all journeys to and from the United Kingdom.