The Ministry of Transportation and Communications is set to construct an e-government Integrated Data Centre in cooperation with the Economic Development Cooperation Fund from the Republic of Korea to boost government e-services.
Daw Nwe Ni Soe Yin, director of e-Government Department of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, told The Myanmar Times that the South Korean government has sent a draft agreement on the funding of the project.
Read more: MM: Government to build integrated data centre with S. Korean aid
Five years after Myanmar’s liberalisation of the telecommunications sector, the nation has now over 50 million mobile subscribers, a figure that almost encompasses its total population, and is set for adoption of digital economy with the help of industry leaders worldwide.
Myo Swe, deputy director general at the Posts and Telecommunications Department, said earlier that Myanmar would strive for enabling digital economy and multi-sectorial digital transformation including digital government, digital community and digital society, ultimately aiming to become the digital hub in Southeast Asia.
Read more: Myanmar set for transition to digital economy with corporates’ support
An index of mobile phone penetration rates and smart phone usage remains low in Myanmar compared with other countries in the region.
The index shows Myanmar scores a mobile density rate of 105 per cent of mobile density and 80 per cent for smartphone usage, according to a Digital Myanmar report made by Telenor.
Read more: MM: Mobile penetration rate and smartphone usage levels lowest in the region: Telenor
Myanmar Computer Federation (MCF) President U Khun Oo spoke exclusively with The Myanmar Times last week on ways and means to effectively implement the current electronic-Government systems.
Q: How would you define an e-Government?
There are several definitions based on different interpretations by various countries. Essentially, an electronic-Government (or e-Government) refers to utilization of Information Technology (IT), Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), and other web-based telecommunication technologies to improve on the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery between governments, and between the government and the private or public sector.
Read more: MM: Master plan needed for e-Government Committee
A majority of stakeholders who attended Myanmar’s second digital rights forum believed that the freedom of expression in the country has worsened in 2017 while online privacy has also deteriorated.
Over 150 participants took part in the second digital rights forum in Yangon on January 18 hosted and jointly organised by Phandeeyar together with MIDO, Engage-Media, Free Expression Myanmar and the Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (MCRB), with support from the Swedish government.
Read more: Myanmar backslides on freedom of expression: digital rights stakeholders