Indonesia

Telkom Indonesia’s $100m submarine cable completed Wireless Federation, May 29

USD100 million submarine fibre-optic network cables for PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom Indonesia) have been signed off by Japanese ICT-based business solutions provider Fujitsu Limited in partnership with Germany’s Norddeutsche Seekabelwerke (NSW). Indonesian islands Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Java, Bali and Lombok will be connected by the new link and will allow inhabitants living there to access broadband-speed internet services, including e-commerce, video, data, and voice telephony services.

Malaysia

Government Studies Reduction In Internet Service Fee - Dr Rais Yatim Bernama, June 14

The government is studying the possibility of reducing the service fee for broadband services nationwide to ensure that the people, especially those in the rural areas, can afford the service.

The Malaysian government says it will continue to improve its productivity through a whole-of-government ICT infrastructure consolidation exercise estimated to cost RM650 million during the Tenth Malaysia Plan.

"The move will result in increased productivity, minimise redundancies and improve efficiencies brought about through centralised management and maintenance of shared resources.This will provide cost savings on an increasing basis as more agencies migrate to the shared network and centres," says the Economic Planning Unit in the prime minister's department in the 10th Malaysia Plan (2011 to 2015) report released yesterday.

Malaysian software testing board opens US$3.3 million Q-Lab in Malaysia MIS, June 8

MSTB [Malaysian Software Testing Board] has launched a US$3.3 million advanced testing lab, Q-Lab, to help establish Malaysia as a regional hub for software testing, said the industry association. During the launch of Q-Lab, Malaysian ministry of science, technology and innovation (MOSTI) deputy minister, Fadillah Yusof, said this move would help the country become a major player in the lucrative software testing market.

Broadband push to drive economy The Star, June 8

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin wants the people to understand the positive impact and importance of broadband towards economic growth and the need to expand its use, quality and service. Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, said Malay-sia’s penetration rate of 36.1% was far behind Singapore, South Korea and Japan. “The capability of a country to compete on the global stage largely depends on the use of ICT and broadband by the private sector and government,” he said after launching the Digital Pagoh-Muar 1Malaysia campaign in Pagoh yesterday.

Philippines

UC, IBM launch "Earn as You Learn" program PhilStar, June 23

The University of Cebu, in partnership with IBM, yesterday launched the “Earn as You Learn” program in its effort to further improve the quality of Cebu’s manpower pool specifically in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector. EAYL, which was first introduced in Australia prior to its entry in Cebu, is an undergraduate course that combines specialized curriculum with real-life experience in a professional IT environment.

Gov't CIOs celebrate ICT Month with RP eGov Awards PIA, June 22

Some 200 government chief information officers (CIOs) and executives concerned with information and communications technology (ICT) representing national government agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations, and local government units are commemorating the annual ICT Month with a forum on e-Governance entitled "Public Service 2.0: From e-Government to e-Governance" June 22-23 at the Intercontinental Hotel, Makati City.

Chairman Ray Antony Roxas-Chua III of the Commission on ICT (CICT) gave the keynote address on the status of e-Governance practice in the Philippines, while international and leading local speakers discussed other aspects of e-Governance in terms of best practices, one-stop services, mobile governance, and cloud computing.

ICT agenda for the new leadership Business World, Jun 21

The outgoing administration’s primary focus in its Information and Communications Technology (ICT) agenda was Job Creation. This effort spawned an industry which has not only created over half a million ICT-related careers nationwide for our youth, it has also succeeded in generating investments into the country and making the Philippines only second to India in the Outsourcing industry. Sadly, however, the outgoing administration did not provide the same level of leadership in E-Governance -- the pervasive implementation of ICT in delivering government services to the public.

Singapore

S'pore looks to emerging tech for ICT boost ZDNEtAsia, Jun 23

The Singapore government's upcoming IT investment will likely revolve around seven key themes, among which emerging technologies such as cloud computing and Web 2.0 initiatives will take precedence, according to a new IDC report. Released Wednesday, the study stated that the country's ICT projects in fiscal year 2010, which ends Mar. 31, is expected to be aligned with seven themes: cloud computing, ubiquitous presence, social media, open data and services, data repository, business analytics, and sustainable technologies. The Singapore government last month pledged to invest S$1.1 billion (US$798 million) alongside plans to call for 350 new tenders in the current fiscal year.

S'pore to spur risk-averse data centers to go green ZDNet Asia, Jun 21

Among other initiatives under the national green data center strategy, the country is working on creating an isolated environment for businesses to testbed energy-efficient measures for their data centers, said Ling Keok Tong, deputy director of technology and planning group at Singapore's ICT regulator, Infocomm Development Authority (IDA). He added that the country's new Green Data Centre Standard is also on track to be published by the end of 2010.

Singapore Internet Exchange To Boost Broadband Services GovMonitor, June 15

Acting Minister Lui Tuck Yew announced the launch of the Singapore Internet Exchange (SGIX), which will provide a highly efficient facility for telcos to share information between their subscribers and improve the quality and speed of broadband for Singapore users. The initiative is part of the government’s efforts to develop the ICT sector to achieve economic growth, bridge social divides and deliver more effective government services.

Spore unveils new services in ICT Roadmap ZDNet, Jun 14

Lui Tuck Yew, Singapore's acting minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, announced during his opening address at the imbX 2010 tradeshow here Tuesday, the launch of services and IT platforms such as the Singapore Internet Exchange (SGIX) and National Authentication Framework (NAF). Held annually, imbX is one of Asia's biggest ICT shows encompassing CommunicAsia, BroadcastAsia, EnterpriseIT and InteractiveDME. The SGIX, for example, is a platform that will allow different telco service providers to share information between their consumer and business subscribers, said Lui. The two operational nodes of the platform is expected to exchange up to 50 percent of local Internet traffic between its members, he added.

New Spore e-Government Masterplan to Connect with the People GovMonitor, Jun 14

Social networking tools have empowered citizens, and they could also be harnessed by the public sector to deliver efficient and effective services, said Head of Civil Service Peter Ho at the iGOV Global Forum. He also gave a preview of Singapore’s next e-Government masterplan, to facilitate a collaborative government that co-creates and connects with the people.

Thailand

Ministers sign computer-related crime MOU Bangkok Post, Jun 22

The growing use of the Internet for criminal purposes which pose a threat to Thailand's national security and social development issues has driven the government to implement new initiatives to overcome these challenges and reconsider computer-crime-related legislation. Attempting to protect the royal institution, society and citizens from the misuse of the Internet and online crime has led three ministers to cooperate in an effort to fill the gap in official resources and enforce measures more effectively, according to Chuti Krairiksh, the Information Technology and Communication minister.

Govt battles for Thaicom Bangkok Post, Jun 15

The government is pulling out all stops to buy back Thaicom Plc, the Shin Corp firm sold to a Singapore company which proved the catalyst for the 2006 coup and four years of political turmoil. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday firmly backed moves to buy back the national satellite operator for security reasons. He has given the Finance Ministry his full support to negotiate an appropriate price with the owner, Singapore's Temasek Holdings. The ministry has begun negotiations with Temasek, which owns Thaicom directly through outright share holdings and indirectly through associated companies. But its efforts have been given added impetus to complete the deal with the prime minister's support.

Vietnam

Vietnam is Japan's Third Largest Partner in Software Processing Vietnam Net, Jun 21

Vietnam is now Japan’s third largest software processing partner, after China and India...Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Minh Hong said the Vietnamese government always gives priority to IT development. Hong said Vietnam is building a new IT development strategy, which aims to turn Vietnam into a strong IT country by 2020.

END MEMO

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