Qatar took a bold step towards a new era of e-Government this morning, when a kick-off meeting between leading companies and major government agencies saw the launch of the new secure Government Network initiative.
The project, which is being implemented by ictQatar, will allow for government agencies to be directly linked together over a secure communications platform, enabling improved data sharing and enhanced security for e-services. This bold initiative will ensure the delivery of higher qualities of service for the people of Qatar, and provide a framework for greater innovation across fields such as education, healthcare and online support.
Leading communications company Qtel is building and hosting the Government Network, in one of the largest and most sophisticated projects ever conducted in the governmental sector in the region.
Participants in the meeting included senior representatives from Kahramaa, The Ministry of Interior and Hukoomi (Qatar Government Online) who praised the project for its bold scope and vision.
Hassan Al-Sayed, Executive Director of Government Information Management Office (GIMO), ictQatar: “This is an important moment in the development of a new era in the way government services are delivered to the people. Through the innovations under discussion here today, Qatar will lead the world in the delivery of advanced e-government services.”
“Our major investment in Government Network initiative helps to lay the foundations for the Qatar National Vision 2030, which will ensure Qatar’s position as an advanced society capable of sustaining its development and providing a high standard of living for its people,” he added.
The solution being put into place and hosted by Qtel is among the most sophisticated in the world, ensuring high levels of privacy and security for personal data, and also ensure clear and open communication between different government agencies, departments and service teams.
Eng. Khalid Al Mansouri, Executive Director of Qtel’s Business Solutions, said: “This is a major undertaking, and the Government Network’s sophistication reflects Qatar’s ambition to build its knowledge-based economy and help position the country on the cutting-edge of ICT technology being used for the service of our people. By bringing different government entities together on a shared, highly secure network, we will enable initiatives to deliver co-ordinated responses that make a real impact on people’s lives.”
Khalil Al-Emadi, Executive Director Networks, Qtel, noted: “Qtel has been one of the most significant long-term investors in ICT in Qatar, and the fruits of that investment are now being realized in key sectors across the country. The potential for building one of the most advanced e-Government networks in the world was made possible by Qatar’s vision of development and enlightened leadership.”
As well as building and maintaining the Network infrastructure, Qtel is providing ongoing professional consultancy support for the project, based on its significant experience in the management of enterprise-level network. The Government Network will provide basic network connectivity to a complete set of managed services, as well as a centralised operational network and a support service 24/7.
In addition, it will offer redundant, highly secure, high-speed connections to the Internet. Agencies will be able to make their applications and services available to other agencies over a secure platform where they can also exchange data.
Dr. Sheikha Al Jaber, IT Manager, Kahramaa, said: “Qatar is taking the lead in the development of e-Government in the region, reflecting our ambitions to play the role of pioneer in this area. Today’s meeting provides an excellent opportunity to build a secure network for the people of Qatar.”
Faisal Abdulla Al-Kuwari, Head of Network & Client Support, Kahramaa, said: “Government departments have a mandate to work together to ensure that the services we provide are as effective as possible, and that our operations are as efficient as possible. This new Government Network will provide us with the platform to take our support services to the next level.”
Government at the highest levels will be involved in the project.
Brigadier Saleh Khamis Ghanim Al Kubaisi, Director of Information Systems, Ministry of Interior, explains: “The security and stability of this Network is as important as its flexibility, since it enables government departments to deliver to the standard outline in the 2030 strategy
Apart from Ministries, hospitals and schools, the Government Network initiative will also involve agencies’ headquarters and remote sites, as well as agencies and the operations of the Qatar Data Centre (QDC).
Qtel has planned a robust solution for ictQatar, integrating the latest technological developments.
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Quelle/Source: Al Bawaba, 18.06.2009
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