Regional S'pore, M'sia unveil lower mobile roaming rates ZDNet, Apr 20 Singapore and Malaysia have inked a bilateral agreement to lower roaming rates for voice calls and text messaging for mobile subscribers in the two countries. In a statement Wednesday, the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) said effective May 1, Singapore and Malaysia mobile subscribers will enjoy reductions of up to 30 percent for voice calls, and 50 percent for SMSes (short message services), when they tap the mobile roaming service of any mobile operator in the two countries. M’sia-S’pore rate cut a step for ASEAN ICT Borneo Post, Apr 22 The agreement to cut roaming rates between select Malaysian and Singaporean mobile operators was seen as the basis for other Asean member countries to emulate as part of a longer-term aspiration for the Asean ICT Masterplan 2015. Seven APAC markets shine in ICT readiness ZDNet, Apr 13 Seven economies in the Asia-Pacific region have been ranked among the global top 20 in terms of their preparedness to use info-communications technology, according to a new study. In the 10th Global Information Technology Report released Wednesday, business school Insead and the World Economic Forum (WEF) praised the Asia-Pacific region, calling it "home to some of the best performers in the world and to the economies that have proven [to be] the most dynamic over time".
1Malaysia E-mail To Facilitate Public And Government Interactions Bernama, Apr 25 The 1Malaysia e-mail (1MY) initiative which provides a unique and official e-mail account for all Malaysians aged 18 and above will be advantageous to the people, said an information communications technology (ICT) expert. ICT To Contribute RM42 Billion To Malaysia's GDP By 2015 Bernama, Apr 20 The Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) sees further growth in the third phase (2011-2020) of MSC Malaysia with . Information Communications Technology(ICT), expected to contribute RM42 billion to gross domestic product (GDP) by 2015. Malaysia Govt to Host Infrastructures for Digital Transaction FutureGov, Apr 1 The Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will be hosting various intelligent ICT infrastructures under its Digital Lifestyle Malaysia (DLM) initiative to increase the usage of Internet-based transactions. Yow Lock Sen, MCMC Head of Industry Research & Analysis told FutureGov Asia Pacific Magazine these infrastructures are EPC Global Information System (MyEPCIS), Digital Content Hosting Platform (MyDCHP), Shared Services Network (MySSN), Next Generation Authentication System (MyNGAS) and Secured Link to Government (SL2G). Malaysia's GCIO Shares New Govt ICT Master Plan FutureGov, Mar 24 In 2020, Malaysia will become a ‘high-income nation’ that is both ‘inclusive and sustainable’, according to the vision laid out by the government. Dato’ Dr Nor Aliah bt Mohd Zahri, the country’s Government Chief Information Officer, says that the new government ICT plan, which is currently being finalised, will play an indispensable role in achieving this vision.
Philippines Looks to Build Schools' ICT Skills PhilStar, Apr 7 The Philippines has launched a Global Filipino Schools (GFS) programme, an ICT competency-building initiative similar to Singapore’s FutureSchools. Organised by Globe Telecom, a Filipino communications service provider, in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Coalition for Better Education (CBE), GFS will in the next three years identify 15 schools to be equipped with ICT infrastructure. Within this first phase, the schools will have an enhanced ICT laboratory complete with at least 30 networked-computers, multimedia tools such as LCD projectors, screens, and television sets, and wired and wireless connectivity.
S'pore School Launches 1-to-1 Computing Pilot ZDNet, Apr 1 Ngee Ann Secondary School, a beacon of education technology applications, has announced a 1-to-1 computing programme pilot, equipping each child in a class of 36 with a personal learning device that allows them "immediate access to a wide range of information, web-based resources and learning communities during curriculum hours anytime and anywhere". New green standard for S'pore data centres Channel News Asia, March 31 Estimates are suggesting that the 10 largest data centre operators in Singapore consume energy equivalent to 130,000 households, which is more than 10 per cent of Singapore households. Data centre and network equipment accounts for 32 per cent of the entire ICT sectors energy and carbon footprint. The Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) said that IT equipment utilises only 30 per cent of the total energy consumed by a data centre. The remaining 70 per cent is taken up by cooling which leaves room for energy consumption reduction... To encourage data centres to manage that cost, the IT Standards Committee (ITSC), together with the IDA and SPRING Singapore, launched the Singapore Standard for Green Data Centres - Energy and Environment Management Systems.
School computer projects to propel IT markets Bangkok Post, Apr 26 Thailand's IT market is expected to get a lift from political parties' populist policies, with a growth target of 20% to 84 billion baht next year. As Puea Thai promises "one tablet computer per child" and the Democrats offering a national broadband policy, the ICT market can expect gains, said Panuwat Khantamoleekul, managing director of Supreme Distribution (Thailand), which makes DTK brand computers. CAT president faces axe Bangkok Post, Apr 5 Jirayuth Roongsrithong may face the same fate as the former TOT president, being dismissed as president of CAT Telecom after failing to pass his latest six-month performance review, says a CAT director. The CAT board on Thursday agreed that Mr Jirayuth failed to meet his performance targets. Directors will now need to discuss what further action to take, including possibly terminating Mr Jirayuth's employment contract and undergoing a search for a new president. Government agencies big spenders Bangkok Post, Apr 14 The Education Ministry, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) ministry are top-three spenders on government IT projects this year. This year's spending is up 15% from the previous fiscal year that ended last Sept 30, reflecting the government's policy of narrowing the digital divide and improving computer literacy. Thailand to Build 2 Satellites to Keep Orbital Slots TelecomPaper, Mar 23 Thailand's cabinet has approved a proposal by the ICT ministry to build two new satellites to be able to retain the country's orbital slot rights. The rights are due to expire next year. The move is also aimed at enhancing the country's commercial satellite industry and provide options apart from Thaicom, which is currently the country's sole satellite services providers. New department to create legal infrastructure The Nation, Mar 17 The Information and Communications Technology Ministry is to set up a new department with responsibility for establishing a legal infrastructure and taking care of laws related to the electronic environment.
Vietnam gives 5 million rural workers free training FutureGov, Apr 20 Vietnam will build more software parks in the next ten years to nurture the development of the country’s information and communication technology (ICT) industry, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan told reporters on Monday. Govt Allocates US$ 1.2b to Connect Rural Vietnam FutureGov, Apr 14 Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved early this year a VND25 trillion (US$1.19 billion) project on rural information and communication development for 2011 to 2012. The project aims to provide multi-service broadband connection to boost telecommunication infrastructure and services in remote areas of the country. END MEMO If you have questions regarding the Council's regular updates and e-mail distribution, please send an email to Anthony Nelson at anelson@usasean.org. If you would like to unsubscribe from this mailing list, please reply to this email with the subject line: UNSUBSCRIBE. US-ASEAN Business Council | 1101 17th St, NW Ste 411 | Washington, DC 20036 |
||||