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Digital technologies play a significant transformative role in a growing number of government sectors. They are rapidly impacting all policy workstreams and raising citizens’ expectations in terms of public service efficiency, inclusiveness, convenience, and sustainability.
This necessitates that governments prioritise digital policy planning, design, development, implementation, and oversight. Apart from adapting their institutional settings, legal and regulatory frameworks, greater efforts must be mobilised to enhance the necessary public sector capacities for seizing opportunities and addressing challenges associated with digital transformation.
At this scale, digital transformation begins with each agency embracing and adopting to change. The government relies on enterprises to guide them on their transformation journey to create an environment of open culture, open practices and open technology that fully supports change.
Many digital transformation success stories in the private and public sectors across the region are based on collaboration with partners with proven experience in application modernisation and cultural change.
Without a doubt, Singapore is redoubling its efforts to improve the development of digital applications and services for citizens. In late 2018, the government announced a five-year plan to migrate the majority of its information technology systems from on-premises infrastructure to the commercial cloud to provide better services for citizens and businesses in the region.
The Singapore government intends to spend up to S$3.8 billion this year on information and communications technology procurement to transform government digital services used by both citizens and businesses, as well as reengineering government digital infrastructure that supports modern application development. As it delivers more agile and innovative products and services to the citizens, the government hopes that leading by example will spur organisations into accelerating the transformation efforts.
This was the focal point of the OpenGovLive! Virtual Breakfast Insight on 21 Sept 2021 – a closed-door, invitation-only, interactive session with Singapore’s top government agencies. The session focused on how government agencies and organisations could enhance their IT infrastructure, drive successful digital transformation projects, modernise services and rapidly develop digital services to increase productivity and enhance the citizen experience.
It aimed to provide an understanding of how to overcome change barriers so agencies can build high-performing teams and modernise application delivery, as well as undergo cultural transformation to improve the public sector’s capacity and capability.
Citizen-centric solutions for future-ready government
Mohit Sagar, Group Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief at OpenGov Asia, kicked off the session with his opening address.
He acknowledged that demand for online services during the pandemic skyrocketed. This drives many organisations to offer a slew of personalised options, which, in turn, have made customers more discerning and demanding.
He agreed that while 2020 was about digital transformation, much of it was companies and governments bolting technologies to create ad-hoc platforms and band-aid solutions. It is now time to deploy more permanent initiatives – intentional, agile, and scalable. In this, Mohit felt, governments should lead rather than be followers, establishing vision, defining policy and creating infrastructure.
Despite being a difficult journey, Singapore has travelled a fair way into its journey and, based on its track record, will keep striving to ensure the continuation of digital transformation.
A happy citizen is what organisations and governments should strive for, and Mohit’s advice is that they should push that goal as far as they can. This can be accomplished if organisations work together effectively with experts to guide them.
He believes that having the right partner is the key to success, allowing agencies to concentrate on their deliverables.
Mohit said that the speed of this acceleration is determined by technological advancements. Certain platforms provide organisations with more power, which is ultimately what organisations and governments seek. “The right technology, with the right power,” and this is the path that organisations should take and adopt.
DevOps – the most effective way forward
Andrew Clay Shafer, Vice President of Transformation, Global Transformation Office, Red Hat in his welcome address spoke about DevOps, a concept which he helped to implement.
DevOps is a culture, automation and platform design approach that aims to increase business value and responsiveness by providing rapid, high-quality service delivery. All of this is made possible by fast-paced, iterative IT service delivery. DevOps is the process of connecting legacy apps with newer cloud-native apps and infrastructure.
There has been a Darwinian pressure, he says, in delivering fast and more reliable service at an ever grader scale that has led to the implementation of DevOps. Notwithstanding, deployment of DevOps is not ubiquitous. Highly evolved firms are far more likely to implement automation comprehensively according to a report presented by Andrew on the state of DevOps in 2021.
Another key issue that needs careful consideration is failure framing – something that Red Hat is closely monitoring. The first lacunae often are a failure in leadership. This occurs when people at the highest levels of an organisation are not ready to support new ways of working or lack the necessary strategic vision.
Next, there is product failure that happens where investment in digital solutions is not prioritised. An organisation may not understand nor value such investments and consequently, these strategies will not matter to the organisation.
Development failure is not a strategic issue but rather a lack of development skills. An organisation may see the value of the digital transformation but may know have the expertise or ability required.
The fourth problem is architecture failure. Here organisations may meet the delivery features but may not have considered numerous other factors critical to success.
He suggests that the primary advantage of being cloud-native is operational excellence. While most organisations have these ‘roles,’ many organisations lack the associated capabilities. To overcome this, organisations are encouraged to make strategic investments in leadership through executive sponsorship, strategic product requirements, better product development through delivering the right features and improved operations where systems never stop working.
Andrew then referred to his colleague’s, (Jabe D Bloom) research which distinguishes between two types of economics – scale and differentiation and the tension between efficiency and innovation – which is an oversimplification of DevOps. He noted that this is where on one side, developers or IT operations are creating more value and on the other side, business units or organisations are attempting to drive down costs. The debate plays out at the organisational level but begs the question, “How can both sides win together?”
To win, one must engage in the process of communing, which is a constant negotiation between selfish interests and those of the collective. DevOps discussions are centred on tools – it is all about bringing people and interests together, whether it is old-school automation, any new platforms or other upcoming cloud services. It is about recognising humans as active agents in the process and bringing all of their personal interests together so that organisations can negotiate their way through them.
Andrew acknowledged an SRE framework in which Google performs a variety of operations. Having worked on the SRE workbook, he strongly encourages organisations to read it to be better informed. The SRE creates framework modules to implement canonical solutions for the production area in question. As a result, development teams can concentrate on the business logic while the framework handles the infrastructure.
In concluding his session, Andrew feels that the problem is not technical or human; rather it is the socio-technical system that delivers these dependable innovative outcomes and organisations must work together to solve these issues.
Continuous innovation and collaboration should lead the way
David Graham, Chief Innovation Officer for the City of Carlsbad, the next speaker, has been working with the government and private sector for the past 20 years.
Right off the bat, David wanted to compliment Singapore as a nation and a government because their digital transformation and innovation journey is significantly ahead of many other countries in the region.
San Diego is well known for its work on IoT and for its innovative companies that are part of the city’s innovation ecosystem – which has led to the county’s transformation journey. For example, the region has the world’s first all-electric car fleet and the largest deployment of smart streetlights and is consistently addressing climate change from all fronts. Adoption of technology in the county is high and the appetite for more keeps growing.
Carlsbad explored the development of digital tools for citizens and the insights were provided by the citizens or residents themselves – assisting the government to drive change using those insights.
David elaborated on a strategy they call “Connected Carlsbad” that is built on 5 pillars:
- Pursue community-wide digital transformation
- Build capacity for Data-driven Decision making
- Foster a vibrant civic engagement culture
- Enhance accessibility and transparency
- Promote safety and sustainability through connectivity
Ultimately, Carlsbad is still looking for its “moon-shot.” Some of the greatest things that have happened in the world today have occurred as a result of problems and challenges, but they have been done collectively, and that is the type of moon-shot that Carlsbad is looking for.
One way to assess how an organisation or country is doing is a digital maturity model that has levels of where organisations is that ranges from digital novice to best in class. Several factors contribute to the success of a digital transformation strategy and creativity. Skills, resources, infrastructure; even culture can be either an accelerant or a detriment to innovation.
Singapore, too, has consistently ranked extremely high in the Asian Pacific region in terms of transformation. “One might wonder what there is to learn if we are already there?” David ponders, “Now that innovation has advanced, what do organisations do on their transformation journey?
He answerers that with a quote from Mark Zuckerberg – move fast and break things – and then exhorts the delegates, “Now you do good, and you can also break things.”
Organisations, he believes, should put all of their learning in the context of what they are trying to achieve, taking an inclusive approach to development or innovation that is being implemented. It should not only be collaborative but have a greater level of inclusivity, equity, understanding and empathy.
David stresses that the common thread when governments and organisations have been successful is when they have put people first. “All of this collaboration and connection, followed by shared understanding and information, are really some of the best ways for us to be able to drive change in our organisation and communities throughout our country. So why stop there? Why don’t we work together to change the world?”
Interactive Discussion
After the informative presentations, delegates participated in interactive discussions facilitated by polling questions. This activity is designed to provide live-audience interaction, promote engagement, hear real-life experiences, and impart professional learning and development for participants.
The first question asked what the biggest challenge in the organisation’s digital transformation strategy was. Over 70% of the participants indicated that culture was their main challenge while 24% felt skills were a concern.
Andrew felt that these two issues are connected. There is often a group that has attached their identity to their tasks, and this creates resistance to doing work in new ways with new skills. Organisational barriers can be one of the most difficult to challenge and silo-busting is often bandied about. While it is a nice sentiment, it’s usually a mess if it’s even achieved at all.
Andrew prefers to think about creating windows, doors and door maps into silos. It is helpful to have a culture of openness where leadership values and praises employees who support others.
David opined that when leadership demonstrates openness and transparency and praises those who collaborate there becomes a more welcoming culture that invites more natural collaboration and innovation.
When asked what percentage of the overall IT investment the organisations see being committed to its digital transformation strategy over the next 3 years, almost two-thirds (65%) said between 30% – 50% while just over a third indicated more than 50%.
The third question asked what is the most important outcome that the organisation is seeking in the digital transformation journey? 42% of the participants had answered operational efficiency, 29% of them answered reliability of newly deployed changes and another 29% stated the speed of developing and deploying changes.
Participants were polled on what their top consideration in choosing a cloud provider was. More than half (53%) went with tools and services available on the cloud. Just under a quarter (23%) opted for the complexity of migrating existing apps while 12% said skill sets available to navigate the cloud was their top priority. The remaining delegates were even split (6% each) between cost and mobility within multi-clouds.
The last question asked what the biggest benefit that Edge Computing brings to the organisation as part of their digital transformation strategy. About 41% of the participants stated fast-to-adopt IoT solutions while 35% went with AI and computer vision expertise. Just under a fifth (18%) answered no fast, affordable networks at the edge and 6% opted for hardware-based security leadership.
Conclusion
As more organisations and agencies accelerate towards digital transformation, challenges and difficulties are a given on the journey. Continuing pressure on resources entails higher legislative priority, budget limits and maintaining an existing system. It is apparent that the future of government is digital to address these and other difficulties.
Expectations from citizens play an essential role in all this and governments around the world are making sure that they try and meet these. Innovative technology must be used to empower and enhance agencies’ business practices while reducing costs and making the citizen experience as smooth and efficient as possible.
True transformation should be understood from a digital-by-design perspective, in which digital technologies are embedded from the start in the design, development, delivery and monitoring of frameworks and systems.
Mohit and the speakers had expressed their appreciation to the participants for attending the event and appreciated the robust discussion and keen insights. “The tech is there,” he said, “Organisations just need to help consumers understand what they really need.”
David congratulated delegates on the innovations and projects that they have implemented and that they are planning down the road. He was confident that the session would go a long way in informing their plans and thinking.
Kenny Sng, Intel Corporation’s Staff Solution Architect, said his company would be delighted to assist organisations in areas that they are working on and would be happy to walk with them on their digital transformation strategies.
Sean was eager to have Red Hat involved in making sure Singapore remained the smartest city in the region and confirmed that his organisation was available to be part of the public sector’s journey.
Red Hat, ultimately, is always ready to assist customers to modernise their existing systems and construct new infrastructure, while adhering to budgets, complying with regulations and ensuring the citizen could have the best experience possible. He invited delegates to reach out to his team and him to explore ways they could be involved with their plans.
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands at the forefront of technological innovation, promising transformative solutions to complex challenges across various domains. Recognising its potential to revolutionise industries and improve societal well-being, the National University of Singapore (NUS) has inaugurated the NUS AI Institute (NAII). Led by Professor Mohan Kankanhalli, NAII aims to accelerate AI research and its practical applications, fostering collaboration, innovation, and societal impact.
In an era marked by rapid technological advancements, AI has emerged as a powerful tool with the capacity to reshape diverse sectors, ranging from healthcare to finance, education, logistics, and beyond. The establishment of NAII underscores NUS’s commitment to harnessing AI for the greater good, addressing critical issues facing Singapore and the global community.
At the core of NAII’s mission is the advancement of fundamental AI research, aimed at pushing the boundaries of AI capabilities and exploring novel applications across various domains. Through foundational research initiatives, scientists at NAII will tackle complex AI problems, spanning hardware and software systems, AI theory, responsible AI, reasoning AI, and resource-efficient AI. By delving into these areas, the institute seeks to develop cutting-edge AI technologies that address real-world challenges and drive innovation.
Moreover, NAII will prioritise research into the ethical and societal implications of AI, aiming to develop robust governance frameworks that ensure responsible AI development and deployment. This includes examining issues related to transparency, accountability, and ethical decision-making in AI systems. By fostering dialogue and research on AI ethics and governance, NAII aims to guide the responsible use of AI technology and mitigate potential risks.
In addition to foundational research, NAII will spearhead applied research initiatives, focusing on developing AI-driven solutions for specific application domains. Collaborating with experts from diverse fields, including healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, finance, urban sustainability, and education, the institute will tackle pressing challenges and explore opportunities for AI-driven innovation. From optimising supply chains to improving healthcare outcomes and enhancing urban infrastructure, NAII’s applied research efforts aim to deliver tangible benefits to society.
Furthermore, NAII will serve as a hub for AI talent development, providing comprehensive education and training programs for students, professionals, and policymakers. By offering hands-on learning experiences and internships, the institute seeks to nurture the next generation of AI leaders and entrepreneurs, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to drive innovation in AI.
To support its research and educational endeavours, NUS has allocated significant resources to NAII, including external research grants and institutional funding. Moreover, the institute will collaborate closely with government agencies and industry partners to amplify its impact and drive innovation. Strategic partnerships with leading companies such as IBM and Google Cloud will enable NAII to leverage industry expertise and resources, accelerating the translation of research outcomes into real-world applications.
In alignment with Singapore’s Research, Innovation, and Enterprise (RIE) strategy, NAII aims to contribute to the nation’s AI ecosystem by fostering collaboration, innovation, and talent development. By positioning NUS as a global leader in AI research and application, the institute seeks to drive positive societal change and economic growth.
The establishment of NAII represents a significant milestone in NUS’s journey towards harnessing the power of AI for societal benefit. Through cutting-edge research, education, and collaboration, the institute aims to unlock the full potential of AI and pave the way for a more innovative, sustainable, and inclusive future. With its interdisciplinary approach and commitment to excellence, NAII is poised to make a lasting impact on Singapore and the global AI landscape.
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The Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) has reached a significant milestone with its artificial intelligence (AI) platform, VNPT eKYC, logging over 1 billion user authentication requests. This accomplishment solidifies VNPT’s position as a pioneer in electronic identification and verification solutions within Vietnam.
Since its inception, VNPT eKYC has been at the forefront of electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) services for over five years, serving a diverse range of clients including banks, financial institutions, telecommunications companies, and e-commerce entities. With over 100 organisations utilising its services, VNPT eKYC has facilitated electronic identification for more than 40 million individuals across the country.
On average, the VNPT eKYC system processes an impressive 600,000 requests daily, with peak days witnessing over a million requests being handled seamlessly. This demonstrates the platform’s robustness and reliability in managing high volumes of authentication transactions efficiently.
The significance of VNPT eKYC extends beyond its technological capabilities, particularly in the context of evolving regulatory requirements. The State Bank of Vietnam’s decision mandating biometric authentication for transactions exceeding 10 million VND (approximately 416 USD) and other significant transactions from July 1, 2024, underscores the critical role of advanced authentication solutions like VNPT eKYC in ensuring compliance and security in financial transactions.
Moreover, the platform’s success highlights the increasing importance of domestically developed solutions in the banking and financial sector. Domestic solutions such as VNPT eKYC offer several advantages, including rapid implementation, cost-effectiveness, adherence to global technology standards, scalability, and high readiness to meet evolving regulatory requirements.
Central to the effectiveness of VNPT eKYC is its advanced AI models, which enable the verification of facial biometric data with an impressive accuracy rate of up to 99.99%. This high level of accuracy not only enhances the security of authentication processes but also contributes to building trust and confidence among users and regulatory authorities.
As Vietnam’s digital economy continues to grow and evolve, the role of advanced authentication and verification solutions like VNPT eKYC becomes increasingly indispensable. Beyond facilitating seamless and secure electronic transactions, these solutions contribute to enhancing the overall digital infrastructure and ecosystem of the country, paving the way for further innovation and economic growth.
Looking ahead, VNPT remains committed to advancing its AI platform and expanding its capabilities to meet the evolving needs of its clients and the regulatory landscape. With a strong focus on innovation, reliability, and security, VNPT eKYC is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of electronic identification and verification in Vietnam’s dynamic digital economy.
VNPT’s achievement of logging over 1 billion authentication requests with its AI platform, VNPT eKYC, marks a significant milestone in Vietnam’s journey towards digital transformation.
Amid a swiftly changing global landscape, Vietnam emerges as a frontrunner in a digital revolution, strategically positioned to harness technology’s transformative power for economic progress and societal development.
It is embracing its digital transformation journey, highlighting collaborative efforts to drive the nation’s digital transformation. The nation’s digital technology industry aims to propel Vietnam towards high-income status by 2045 through technology mastery, innovation, and indigenous manufacturing capabilities.
Moreover, the nation is working to harmonise its regulations, streamline laws, and promote consistency in its legal framework to foster a more favourable and appealing cyber environment.
As the country continues to embrace technology-driven solutions to address emerging challenges, VNPT eKYC stands as a testament to the potential of domestic innovation in driving progress and excellence in the digital era.
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Mudik is a tradition of returning to one’s hometown that is widely practised by the Indonesian community, especially when Eid al-Fitr celebrations approach. This tradition involves a massive population movement from big cities to their origin areas or hometowns to celebrate the holiday with family and relatives.
The phenomenon of mudik also shows the importance of family values and togetherness in Indonesian culture. It becomes a moment to reconnect social and cultural ties among family members who might have been separated by distance for various reasons, such as work or education.
The Indonesian government often takes special measures to accommodate the travel surge during the mudik period, such as increasing public transportation capacity, providing emergency health services on the mudik routes, and maintaining and repairing road infrastructure.
This year, as a State-Owned Enterprise, the cellular operator Telkomsel provides 4G networks on 14 mudik ships operated by the Indonesian National Shipping Company (Pelni).
Over the years, mudik travellers choosing to travel by sea have faced significant obstacles related to internet access. This condition has left them disconnected from the outside world. At the same time, in the middle of the sea, thus unable to access up-to-date information, communicate with family, or even enjoy entertainment.
“With this latest development, we can provide high-quality services to our customers, ensuring that they remain connected even while in the middle of a sea journey,” said Saki Bramono, Telkomsel’s Vice Director of Corporate Communication and Social Responsibility.
Further, Telkomsel’s 4G service has now successfully reached as many as 1,100 shipping routes served by 14 ships and 83 ports across Indonesia. This innovation results from a strategic collaboration with Telkomsat, a Telkom subsidiary specialising in satellite internet services. Through this collaboration, Telkomsel and Telkomsat present a strong and stable 4G LTE signal on ships, allowing passengers to stay connected to the internet during their mudik journey.
Telkomsat uses the Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) Landing Rights to ensure broad and reliable satellite internet coverage. Saki stated that the initiative to provide 4G internet services on ships, chosen by the community for mudik, is the first time Telkomsel has implemented satellite internet technology. This move not only revolutionises the sailing experience for mudik travellers by sea by ensuring smooth and continuous communication access but also marks a new chapter in Telkomsel’s efforts to overcome connectivity challenges in Indonesia, especially in hard-to-reach locations like the middle of the sea.
To improve service quality and customer experience during the crucial mudik Lebaran period, Telkomsel focuses on upgrading and optimising telecommunications networks and proactively expands and strengthens its network infrastructure. As part of these efforts, Telkomsel strategically increased the 4G network capacity at 70 existing Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) and took a significant step by building 325 new 4G BTS.
These measures ensure that customers enjoy smooth connectivity and high-quality communication in urban areas and mudik routes that often cross areas with limited telecommunications access.
Telkomsel estimates a 15.22% increase in internet traffic during the Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr 2024 period compared to regular days. Of the total increase in internet traffic, the cellular operator estimates the highest increase comes from the areas of Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara, popular mudik destinations, at 26.25%.
The second highest increase is estimated from Sumatra, at 16.99%. An increase in internet traffic is also expected in Papua, Maluku, Sulawesi, and Kalimantan by 13.11%. Meanwhile, the increase in internet traffic in the Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi, and West Java areas is estimated to reach 4.28%.
Telkomsel has prepared a customer service team that works tirelessly, ready to serve customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Customers can easily access this service through various channels, including social media, customer service calls, the MyTelkomsel mobile app, and a virtual assistant named Veronika. Customers can also visit GraPARI outlets spread across various locations for face-to-face services.
These comprehensive measures affirm Telkomsel’s commitment to providing high-quality and reliable telecommunications services, especially during important moments like the mudik Lebaran, where smooth and fast communication is critical.
With the improvement of network infrastructure and strong customer service support, Telkomsel strives to ensure that every customer can connect with family and loved ones without obstacles, making their mudik journey safe and enjoyable.
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Da Nang, a central city in Vietnam, is gearing up to bolster its semiconductor industry with a targeted focus on human resource development. The Vietnam–Korea University of Information and Communication Technology (VKU) recently launched a comprehensive programme aimed at training professionals in integrated circuit (IC) design.
The initiative underscores the city’s commitment to advancing its semiconductor sector. In 2024, Da Nang will concentrate on cultivating a pool of qualified teaching staff through collaborative efforts with the Viet Nam-Korea Information Technology (IT) and Communications University, the Institute of Information Technology under the Viet Nam National University – Ha Noi, and the Da Nang Semiconductor and Artificial Intelligence Centre for Research and Training (DSAC). Support from Synopsys Vietnam Company will further bolster these endeavours.
The training programme, spanning six months, comprises both theoretical learning and project-based training. It encompasses four modules covering Very-large-scale integration (VLSI) Design, SystemVerilog/Verilog/Very High-Speed Integrated Circuit Hardware Description Language, basic digital integrated circuits, and basic analog circuit design.
The inaugural training course for lecturers will host 25 participants selected from prestigious institutions including the Viet Nam-Korea Information Technology (IT) and Communications University, Da Nang University of Science and Technology, University of Technical Education, Duy Tan University, and FPT University. A significant highlight of the programme is the access granted to lecturers to Synopsys’ extensive library and teaching materials, enabling them to develop practical IC design curricula upon completion.
Huynh Cong Phap, Principal of VKU, emphasised the programme’s objective of equipping students with practical IC design skills to facilitate training deployment at universities in Da Nang. Additionally, the university plans to offer short-term training courses in semiconductor circuit design for junior and senior students pursuing majors such as computer engineering, technology, embedded systems and IoT, and technology information.
Speaking at the event, Ho Ky Minh, Standing Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, hailed the programme as a significant stride in the city’s strategy for high-quality human resource development. He commended the collaborative efforts between DSAC, VKU, Synopsys Group, and the Information Technology Institute under the Vietnam National University in swiftly launching the city’s inaugural IC circuit design instructor training course.
In line with the city’s ambitions, Ho Ky Minh, the Standing Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Da Nang, welcomed Susan Burns, the US Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, expressing his aspirations for enhanced collaboration with the United States within the semiconductor industry.
Susan Burns lauded the programme as a testament to the robust cooperation between government bodies, private enterprises, and universities in nurturing high-tech talent in Vietnam. This collaboration aims to fortify Vietnam’s position in the global semiconductor supply chain. The United States acknowledges Vietnam’s pivotal role in fostering flexible semiconductor supply chains and extends strong support for the industry’s development in the country.
In tandem with the programme launch, the university unveiled the VKU – SSTH centre, dedicated to semiconductor circuits and smart technology. Equipped with 30 computers and proprietary circuit design software from Synopsys, the centre is poised to serve as a hub for training and research in semiconductor circuits and smart technology.
OpenGov Asia reported that Da Nang inaugurated the Da Nang Semiconductor and Artificial Intelligence Center for Research and Training (DSAC) in January this year, marking a significant stride in technological advancement. This initiative underscores Da Nang’s dedication to enhancing its capabilities in integrated circuit (IC) design and artificial intelligence (AI).
The decision to establish DSAC was announced on January 26 by Le Trung Chinh, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, highlighting the centre’s role in realising the city’s strategic objectives. DSAC is poised to engage in research, training, and technology transfer in microchips, semiconductors, and AI development, while also fostering international cooperation in these critical domains.
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In a significant stride towards enhancing cybersecurity in the realm of consumer Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices, the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) and the Connectivity Standards Alliance (Alliance) recently signed a Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA). This milestone agreement underscores a shared commitment to bolstering international cooperation and coordination in cybersecurity, with a specific focus on advancing the security standards of consumer IoT devices.
The MRA, signed by Mr Chua Kuan Seah, Deputy Chief Executive of CSA, and Mr Tobin Richardson, President & Chief Executive Officer of the Connectivity Standards Alliance, facilitates the mutual recognition of cybersecurity labels for consumer IoT devices.
By harmonising standards and procedures, the arrangement aims to reduce duplication in testing and costs for manufacturers, thereby fostering a more robust cybersecurity environment for consumer IoT devices globally.
Central to the MRA is the exchange and alignment of information related to relevant standards, requirements, and practices concerning the cybersecurity labeling of consumer IoT. This collaboration lays the groundwork for future developments in cybersecurity certification and labeling schemes, ensuring that evolving threats and technological advancements are adequately addressed.
Mr Chua Kuan Seah emphasised the significance of achieving global alignment for consumer IoT cybersecurity, citing it as a key objective since the launch of Singapore’s Cybersecurity Labelling Scheme in 2020. The agreement with the Alliance represents a significant step forward in this endeavor, bringing Singapore closer to its goal of establishing internationally recognised cybersecurity standards for IoT devices.
By promoting Cybersecurity-by-Design and Cybersecurity-by-Default principles, the MRA incentivises manufacturers to embed robust security measures into their IoT devices, ultimately enhancing cybersecurity for consumers worldwide.
The Connectivity Standards Alliance, formerly known as the Zigbee Alliance, is a consortium of companies devoted to developing standards envisioning seamless interaction to enhance daily experiences. With a membership of over 500 companies, the alliance collaboratively creates application profiles for interoperable products, thereby advancing IoT connectivity and fostering innovation in the industry.
Singapore remains deeply committed to bolstering cybersecurity measures both domestically and internationally. At the national level, initiatives are aimed at fortifying the nation’s digital defences, safeguarding critical infrastructure and protecting citizens and businesses from cyber threats. These efforts include the implementation of robust cybersecurity frameworks, regular cybersecurity exercises and drills, and the promotion of cybersecurity awareness among the populace.
The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) plays a pivotal role in safeguarding Singapore’s cyberspace to bolster national security, support the digital economy, and protect the digital way of life. Through initiatives like the Singapore Cyber Emergency Response Team (SingCERT), CSA swiftly responds to cybersecurity incidents, ensuring the detection, resolution, and prevention of cyber threats.
As part of the Prime Minister’s Office and managed by the Ministry of Communications and Information, CSA oversees national cybersecurity functions, collaborates with sector leads to protect critical information infrastructure, and engages stakeholders to raise cybersecurity awareness.
OpenGov Asia reported that Singapore, represented by CSA, collaborates closely with ASEAN Member States (AMS) to establish the ASEAN Regional Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT), facilitating information-sharing and enhancing cybersecurity incident response coordination across the region.
Despite a significant increase in scam cases by nearly 50% to 50,376 in 2023 from 33,669 in 2022, proactive cybersecurity measures have led to a positive outcome. These positive trends are attributed to collaborative efforts among various agencies and stakeholders, including the Singapore Police Force, Infocomm Media Development Authority, Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, Smart Nation Group, Monetary Authority of Singapore, and private sector partners.
Singapore’s proactive efforts, including the proposal to host and fund the ASEAN Regional CERT’s physical activities, demonstrate its commitment to fostering regional cooperation and safeguarding critical information infrastructure on a transnational scale.
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Vietnam has emerged as a promising market in the global data centre landscape, with significant growth projected in the coming decade. According to the latest report from Viettel IDC, the country’s data centre market is forecast to reach a value of US$1.26 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.8%. This projection underscores Vietnam’s increasing importance in the digital economy and its potential to become a key player in the data centre industry.
Despite its promising outlook, Vietnam’s data centre market currently lags behind its regional counterparts in terms of size. Compared to countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia, Vietnam’s data centre market is relatively small. However, this is expected to change in the coming years as the country experiences rapid economic growth and invests heavily in digital infrastructure.
One of the key drivers of growth in Vietnam’s data centre market is the increasing demand for digital services and cloud computing. With the rise of e-commerce, digital banking, and other online services, there is a growing need for secure and reliable data storage and processing facilities. Data centres play a crucial role in meeting this demand by providing the infrastructure necessary to support these services.
Another factor contributing to the growth of Vietnam’s data centre market is the government’s support for digital transformation initiatives. In recent years, the Vietnamese government has prioritised the development of the digital economy as part of its broader economic strategy. This has included investments in digital infrastructure, as well as policies aimed at promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in the tech sector.
Furthermore, Vietnam benefits from a skilled workforce and relatively low construction costs compared to other countries in the region. This makes it an attractive destination for companies looking to establish data centre operations in Southeast Asia. Additionally, the government has implemented supportive regulatory frameworks to encourage investment in the sector, further stimulating growth.
Domestically, the data centre market in Vietnam is dominated by a few major players, including Viettel, VNPT, FPT, and CMC. These companies collectively hold approximately 97% of the market share, indicating a high level of concentration in the industry. However, there are still opportunities for new entrants, particularly in niche segments or specialised services.
Looking ahead, Viettel IDC predicts a significant expansion of Vietnam’s data centre market in the coming years. Plans are underway to build megacentres in major cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, with an estimated total capacity of up to 450 MW. This represents a substantial increase from the current capacity and reflects the growing demand for data centre services in the country.
In addition to data centres, Vietnam’s cloud computing market is also experiencing rapid growth. While the market size is currently smaller than that of neighboring countries like the Philippines and Indonesia, Vietnam has the highest growth rate in the Southeast Asia region and ranks third in Asia overall. The projected growth rate of Vietnam’s cloud market over the next 5-10 years is expected to be around 19-20%, driven by increased adoption of cloud services by businesses and consumers.
Vietnam’s data centre market presents significant opportunities for growth and investment in the coming years. With supportive government policies, a skilled workforce, and increasing demand for digital services, Vietnam is well-positioned to become a major player in the global data centre industry. As the country continues to invest in digital infrastructure and technology, it is poised to emerge as a leading hub for data centre operations in Southeast Asia and beyond.
OpenGov Asia reported that Vietnam is rapidly becoming a key player in the global data center market, driven by factors like increasing digitalisation among SMEs, a tech-savvy young population, the rollout of 5G technology, and a rising demand for independent digital infrastructure and data sovereignty.
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Indonesia has been making strides in the realm of public service technology. Back in 2019, Indonesian President Joko Widodo announced his intentions to digitalise the government by 2025. The country has been focusing on digital transformation to improve public services and make them more accessible to citizens.
The Indonesian government has been enhancing digital-based public services to integrate all government digital platforms through a single sign-in for user convenience. They are also designing the National Digital Service Integration policy, which includes nine priority digital services: education, healthcare, social assistance, and population administration.
The Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB) focuses on the sustainability and replication of public service innovations, particularly leveraging digital technology to enhance these efforts. As part of this initiative, 20 government agencies are participating in a pilot test and calibration of instruments that will later be used to evaluate public service innovation development.
As Assistant Deputy for Coordination and Facilitation of Public Service Best Practice Development Strategy at the Ministry of PANRB, Ajib Rakhmawanto stated during the Pilot Test and Calibration of Instruments for Public Service Innovation Development Evaluation in Jakarta, “The Ministry of PANRB has a programme this year related to the evaluation of public service innovation development. This is a follow-up to the Public Service Innovation Competition (KIPP) we have been organising for the past 10 years, which needs to be evaluated to improve innovation development, especially in terms of KIPP implementation in the future.”
Critical aspects of the public service innovation development evaluation include monitoring the sustainability of Top Innovations, replication efforts, and the assessment of public service innovation development that has been ongoing in various government agencies.
To generate reliable and valid data or information, the Ministry of PANRB, in collaboration with experts from Gadjah Mada University and the University of Indonesia, has formulated evaluation instrument drafts. This pilot test aims to ensure the prepared evaluation instruments can accurately benchmark future public service innovation development evaluations.
Ajib encourages active participation in the pilot test of the prepared instruments, aiming to determine their reliability and validity for potential improvements.
Nailuredha Hermanto, a First Policy Analyst at the Ministry of PANRB, highlighted the goal of the public service innovation development evaluation: to gather information on the achievements of the Public Service Innovation Development Programme (PIPP) over the last decade, from 2014 to 2023. The review will focus on government agencies that have undertaken public service innovation development, along with the 1065 Top KIPP Innovations from 2014-2023 and innovations resulting from the replication of Top KIPP Innovations.
The evaluation utilises three instruments:
- A form for assessing the capacity and outcomes of innovation development by government agencies.
- A form for measuring the sustainability of innovations designated as Top KIPP Innovations.
- A form for evaluating innovations that result from replicating Top KIPP Innovations.
Agencies are encouraged to inventory whether they have replicated any award-winning KIPP innovations, as these can be assessed through the replication form.
The 20 government agencies participating in this pilot test and calibration of evaluation instruments for public service innovation development have previously been involved in KIPP and were selected as Top Innovations. This focus not only emphasises the importance of continuous innovation in public service but also underlines the crucial role of digital technology in facilitating these advancements.
Nailuredha remains optimistic that Indonesia is on course to achieve its goal of unified e-government by 2025 despite acknowledging that considerable work is yet to be completed. Since 2020, the country has made significant progress in enhancing e-government services and infrastructure, now moving into the implementation phase to guarantee uniform government service provision across all levels of government agencies, including both central and local bodies.
“The successful digitalisation of Indonesia’s government services by 2025 hinges on ongoing efforts. The eventual realisation and appearance of an e-Government in Indonesia remain to be seen with time,” Nailuredha concluded.