The Singapore government's role in fostering connectivity and e-government was outlined at a forum session on "Re-inventing Government for a Digital World" at ITU Telecom World yesterday by KT Leong, deputy chief executive of the Infocomm Development Authority.
Leong said Singapore was now into its sixth National ICT Plan and third e-government plan, which have already put more than 1,600 public services online and integrated the processes of more than 30 government agencies.
Last month, the wireless Singapore initiative went live, providing island-wide coverage for citizens and for visitors, according to Leong.
The move, he said, reflected the government's concern that all citizens should "reap the benefits of ICT and use ICT effectively in interacting with the government."
"It is almost inevitable that we will widen the digital divide if special attention is not paid to bring those on the wrong side of the divide up to speed," Leong said.
The Internet, he said, had brought about a paradigm shift in the way public services could be delivered, with the potential to make them available 24-by-7.
The Net also presents an unprecedented opportunity for integrating access to services and, to that end, the government had implemented an Online Business Licensing Service (OBLS).
"The OBLS allowed companies operating in Singapore to apply for the relevant licences and permits from multiple agencies via just one submission," said Leong. "You never need to submit the same information more than once."
Autor(en)/Author(s): Lachlan Colquhoun
Quelle/Source: telecomasia, 08.12.2006
