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The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released a new publicly available digital map that displays key indicators of broadband needs across the country. This is the first interactive, public map that allows users to explore different datasets about where people do not have quality Internet access.
The public “Indicators of Broadband Need,” comes from both public and private sources. The interactive digital map helps illustrate which parts of the U.S. report internet speeds that fall below the Federal Communications Commission’s current benchmark for fixed broadband service: 25 Mbps downstream, 3 Mbps upstream.
The map contains data aggregated at the county, census tract and census block level from the Census Bureau, the Federal Communications Commission FCC’s Form 477, on which internet service providers report fixed broadband speeds that meet the FCC’s benchmark, and speed test data. This is the first map that allows users to graphically compare and contrast these different data sources.
Using the Census’ American Community Survey from 2015-2019, the map also puts poverty and lack of broadband access on the same page. The dataset allows users to see where high-poverty communities are located and how that relates to internet usage patterns, as well as to a lack of computers and related equipment.
The map also shows usage patterns in tribal communities, which have historically suffered from a lack of internet access. Users can toggle the separate data sets on and off to compare information and search for specific locations, including Tribal lands and minority-serving institutions, to gain a better understanding of where broadband needs are greatest.
Users can see internet usage patterns in high-poverty areas and tribal communities, as well as their lack of computers and related equipment. Toggling the layers on and off allows users to compare information for specific locations so they can gain a better understanding of where broadband needs are greatest.
The NTIA map is the latest effort to better identify gaps in high-speed internet services. The FCC tasked its Broadband Data Task Force to develop the necessary tools to gather more accurate and granular broadband access data from ISPs, the public, state, local and tribal governments, other federal agencies as well as third parties, such as companies specialising in broadband mapping and data collection. The agency also said it planned to refine the data over time through crowdsourcing, audits and verification and enforcement actions.
To ensure that every household has the internet access necessary for success in the digital age, NTIA needs better ways to accurately measure where high-speed service has reached Americans and where it has not. The latest mapping effort by NTIA is a welcome new tool that provides valuable insight into the state of broadband across the country.
Any effort to close the digital divide starts with solid data, and NTIA continues to help policymakers make more informed decisions on expanding broadband access. Now, the public can benefit from their platform to see which areas of the country still do not have broadband at the speeds needed to participate in the modern economy.
NTIA also offers to state governments and federal partners a geographic information system (GIS) platform called the National Broadband Availability Map (NBAM). The platform provides more complex tools for analysing broadband access, such as the ability to upload GIS files to compare proposed projects. The mapping platform allows the majority of states in the U.S. to better inform broadband projects and funding decisions.
As reported by OpenGov Asia, high-speed internet access has become a necessity for working and learning from home especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, many American households lack a decent broadband connection. To tackle this problem, U.S. researchers have developed a new tool to smooth the collection of federal broadband access data that helps pinpoint coverage gaps across the U.S. The research reveals that nearly 21% of students in urban areas are without at-home broadband, while 25% and 37% lack at-home broadband in suburban and rural areas.


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The Malaysia Ministry of International Trade & Industry (MITI), Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) and InvestPenang are eager to promote electronics manufacturing in the country. They are partnering to organise a global event for electronics manufacturing and supply chain.
The concentration of much of the world’s semiconductor manufacturing capabilities in Southeast Asia has attracted more global players to the region, as global electronics supply chains are being reshaped by geopolitical forces. According to Linda Tan, the President of the global industry association representing the electronics manufacturing and design supply chain, the timing is ideal for the region to strengthen its position as a vital hub for electronics manufacturing and deepen its integration with global value chains.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority stated that Malaysia has immense potential to expand its robust semiconductor ecosystem and benefit from global demand as the region’s semiconductor hub.
The manufacturing sector, which continues to contribute significantly to the country’s economy, has attracted a steady inflow of high-quality investments, making Malaysia a top investment destination in the region. In 2022, the sector registered a total of RM 84.3 billion (US$ 19.1 billion), accounting for 31.9% of total approved investments in various economic sectors.
The electrical and electronics (E&E) industry emerged as the top-performing industry within the manufacturing sector, receiving a total of approved investments of RM 29.3 billion (US$ 6.6 billion). This achievement highlights Malaysia’s commitment to maintaining its strong position as a vital player in the global semiconductor industry.
The theme of the event is “Boosting Agility and Resiliency for the Electronics Supply Chain” and will address the challenges posed by the current economic downturn and ongoing disruptions, and explore ways to build a more robust supply chain.
Global leaders in the industry will gather to examine strategies for the electronics industry to strengthen its supply chain and enhance its agility and resiliency. Industry leaders explore ways to capitalise on Southeast Asia’s strengths, boost global supply chain resilience, and position the industry for future growth and innovation. There will be vital discussions on crucial areas of semiconductor industry growth such as sustainability, smart manufacturing, smart mobility, smart MedTech, and workforce development.
The Chief Minister of Penang stated that the upcoming event aligns with Penang’s longstanding efforts to enhance its competitiveness in the global arena. Penang has established a significant presence in the semiconductor industry and is recognised for its expertise across the value chain.
InvestPenang, the state’s investment promotion agency, is committed to supporting the growth of emerging subsectors and expanding the semiconductor industry’s scope in Penang. Through these efforts, the state aims to strengthen its semiconductor ecosystem and offer a diverse portfolio of capabilities.
According to market research, the global semiconductor market had a size of US$ 527.88 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow from US$ 573.44 billion in 2022 to USD 1,380.79 billion in 2029, with a CAGR of 12.2% during the forecast period.
The global semiconductor market saw a growth of 6.8% in 2020 compared to the previous year. Despite the unprecedented and significant impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the semiconductor industry experienced positive demand worldwide, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
The growth of the semiconductor market can be attributed to the increasing consumption of consumer electronics devices worldwide. Furthermore, the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and machine learning (ML) technologies are providing new opportunities for market development as these technologies aid memory chips in processing large amounts of data in less time. Additionally, the rising demand for faster and more advanced memory chips in industrial applications is expected to drive market growth during the forecast period.
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The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment shared strategic goals and progress towards digitalisation in each sector in the Indonesia Maju cabinet. In his speech at the SPBE Summit 2023 for the Electronic-Based Government System, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, emphasised that all parties involved in digitisation must work together.
The action was taken to speed up the digitalisation process in Indonesia within the context of achieving digital sovereignty. Using the PeduliLindungi app during the Covid-19 outbreak was cited as an example of Indonesia’s successful large-scale digitalisation.
“We contribute greatly to the digitalisation process. Digitisation has increased our taxable income. There are a lot of bright young folks working on outstanding app creation now. I’d want us to work on this together,” Luhut stated when he visited the event in Jakarta. “I believe what’s here is good. It’s just how we connect it to save unnecessary funds.”
When Deputy VII Arif Mustofa spoke on behalf of Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs (Polhukam) Mahfud MD, he noted that his party was coordinating the digitalisation of services in the Polhukam sector, including everything from the management of the most recent cases to population services.
Mahfud explained that the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs is in charge of technical coordination for five different digital services, including the management of integrated crime cases using IT, online SIM issuance services, government information services and SPBE infrastructure services, state apparatus infrastructure services, regional government services, and population data.
Meanwhile, Expert Staff for Bureaucratic Transformation Aris Darmansyah Edisaputra spoke on behalf of Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (PMK) Muhajir Effendy to say that the ministry’s efforts to speed up the PMK sector, mainly through digitalisation, continue unabated.
Presidential Regulation 132 of 2022 indicated that the acceleration of achievements in education, health, and social welfare also follows the national SPBE architectural strategic initiative. Since these three areas contribute to human and cultural development, Muhadjir argues they require substantial SPBE support in integrated digital services for each area.
Then, as Expert Staff for Digital Transformation Creativity and HR Edwin Rizal Manansang highlighted for Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto, digitisation in the economic sector has been running, notably for electronic payments.
In the business world, digital services are centred on a few key goals. The first involves improving the efficiency of a payment gateway or integrated payment system that links together different types of government digital services, such as immigration services, that are projected to be completely functional at airport checkpoints by the end of the first quarter of this year. According to Airlangga, this service will be integrated into the non-tax state revenue (PNBP) business process to improve the state’s revenue reporting system.
Indonesia’s digitalisation initiatives have steadily improved. Evidence of this may be seen in the rising levels of contentment with official online services. To give one concrete example, the National Public Service Complaint Management System – Services People’s Online Aspirations and Complaints (SP4N-LAPOR!) has a customer satisfaction rate of 73.7%. A total of 1,123 people participated in the study, which was conducted in 2022.
Data from throughout the country shows that AP4N-LAPOR! complaints typically receive a response within 6.1 days. Regarding following up on complaints, the city government of Surabaya is among the quickest in Indonesia, taking only 0.6 business days or around 2 hours. In 2022, the provincial government of East Java handled 6,160 reports and followed up on 97% of them. In addition, the SP4N-LAPOR Administration has issued a Decree to all East Javan provinces and municipalities, and 90% (35 out of 39) of districts/cities have some action plan.
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The Ministry of Industry and Trade has been focusing on protecting consumer rights online amid the boom of e-commerce and the digital economy since the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ministry launched Consumer Rights Day on World Consumer Rights Day, which is marked every year on 15 March.
The Ministry has stressed the importance of consumer protection in building a healthy environment and promoting socioeconomic development. This year’s event highlighted information transparency and safe consumption.
Despite the implementation of the Law on Consumer Rights Protection on 1 July 2011, there has been a persistent prevalence of consumer rights violations across multiple levels, with a growing level of complexity. Entering the post-COVID-19 period, e-commerce, especially borderless trade, has made consumer rights protection a new focus as there were several risks consumers face online. These risks include the sale of counterfeit and substandard products, as well as the misuse of personal information for fraudulent purposes.
The Vietnam Competition and Consumer Authority is preparing to revise the Law on Protection of Consumer Rights to ensure that the legislation stays up-to-date with the evolving landscape. The proposed amendments to the law are expected to be presented for approval at the National Assembly’s meeting in May.
Tran Huu Linh, General Director of the Vietnam Directorate of Market Surveillance, noted that apart from the online shopping trend, there has been an increase in trade fraud and risks to consumers, including fake and poor-quality products. According to statistics from the Ministry, over 1,660 online kiosks offering more than 6,400 products were taken down, and five e-commerce websites accused of selling counterfeit and/or uncertified products were blocked last year.
Linh emphasised that safeguarding consumer rights in the online realm was a priority for the market watch, particularly considering Vietnam’s ambition to become a frontrunner in digital economy development within the region. The government has set a goal for the digital economy to contribute 20% to the country’s GDP by 2025.
Owners of many online stores are prioritising consumer protection as one of their key business strategies. The official urged consumers to make orders from licensed platforms or official stores to ensure their rights are protected. The Deputy Director of the Vietnam Competition and Consumer Authority, Nguyen Quynh Anh, explained that consumer protection needs to have stronger and more substantive changes, which requires the active participation of businesses.
“We used to think that consumer protection was the matter of the State management agency and the consumers. Now, enterprises will be a more important subject in the consumer protection process,” Anh said. It is crucial for enterprises to recognise their responsibility in safeguarding consumer rights and ensuring that consumers have access to reasonably priced and safe products and services.
In 2020, Vietnam approved a National Digital Transformation Programme by 2025, with an orientation toward 2030. The strategy helps accelerate digital transformation through changes in awareness, enterprise strategies, and incentives toward the digitalisation of businesses, administration, and production activities.
The programme targets businesses, cooperatives, and business households that want to adopt digital transformation to improve their production, business efficiency, and competitiveness. The plan aims to have 80% of public services at level 4 online. Over 90% of work records at ministerial and provincial levels will be online while 80% of work records at the district level and 60% of work records at the commune level will be processed online.
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Quantum technologies, the effects of which are predicted to be revolutionary, depend critically on the ability to convey and store information reliably. In the future, quantum computers can answer the most challenging problems that ordinary computers have been unable to solve for thousands of years in only a few hours.
However, storing information in a quantum state presents several challenges. Qubits, the data units used to store quantum information, are very fragile packages. The qubit is easily destroyed by even the slightest environmental perturbation.
Material scientist Feng Pan designed objects with sculptural qualities that affect light to encode information. The postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University predicted that using polaritons will be powerful and essential for information storage. They’re helpful because we can put more data in them.
To safeguard the delicate qubits, Pan is building his metamaterials for Q-NEXT so that he has precise control over the way they produce photons. Photons are particles of light and bearers of quantum information. Q-NEXT is a National Quantum Information Science Research Centre funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and led by Argonne National Laboratory, where Pan is a member.
Pan intended the material to provide particles with well-delineated chirality, denoting the particle’s inherent right- or left-handedness. Pan wanted to create chiral polaritons, which are half-light and half-matter particles. Unlike photons, these particles may move and interact with one another. It plays a crucial role in quantum computing and the modelling of quantum systems.
Polaritons, which can only be left- or right-handed, gain chirality thanks to Pan’s metamaterials. Flawed, unreliable chirality is unacceptable. This feature provides researchers with a crucial new dial to adjust when tinkering with quantum memory.
Light is manipulated by matter’s structure. The iridescence is caused by the opal’s bending and curving of light. When seen via a prism, its various colours are revealed. A reflection in a mirror flattens the 3D image. His materials aren’t light refracting like opals or prisms. His 2D etchings are only visible with a high-powered microscope. These minuscule bas reliefs securely store and transmit quantum information, and they do it by employing the properties of metamaterials, which are materials showing behaviours do not present in nature.
With 1/1,000th the width of a human hair, Pan’s metamaterials include notches, carvings, and formations with entertaining names like “nano bars” and “nanodiscs.” The end product frequently resembles a nanoscopic apple pie that has been partially devoured.
Despite the light-hearted language used to describe them, the design of these elements is meticulous. They can manipulate light in non-standard ways, such as bending or redirecting it, and they can store the energy of light for a very long period (in the quantum world)—a millionth of a second.
To characterise these materials think the best way is to experiment with the optics and build the setup. Pan used a three-stage procedure to make his metamaterials. First, they begin by designing the metamaterials using computer-aided numerical simulations.
Second, he made them in a sterile environment. He prints the 2D design onto a unique chemical by defining it with an electron beam. Next, the plan is transferred to a layer of silicon just hundreds of nanometers thick, or about 1/1,000th the thickness of a sheet of paper. A second layer of atomically thin semiconductor material is included in the metamaterial.
Third, he and his group tracked the overall performance metrics. What properties do the photons it emits have? Is there a way to make it better? How? After making some changes to the design, the team starts over again from the beginning. Optimisation of the entire process may take many weeks or months.
Pan feels the most striking feature of the study is the ability to tailor the chirality of the metamaterials and then link them to other materials to generate chiral polaritons.
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The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) is cracking down on telecom carriers that do not stop junk SIM cards in the market. Mobile network operators have been instructed by the Authority of Telecommunications (AOT) to ensure that all the necessary authentication information of the subscriber is provided when registering.
Telecom carriers need to update procedures and regulations on registering subscribers’ information following Decree 49/2017. In addition, mobile network operators are required to uphold their commitments with MIC and comply with the requests outlined in the legal documents issued by AOT. The agency intends to collaborate with local information and communications departments to oversee and inspect enterprises’ implementation process.
Enterprises that engage in serious violations, such as providing services to new subscribers with insufficient or inaccurate information or selling pre-entered SIM cards with activated mobile services, will be forced to halt the registration of new subscribers, the government has said.
MIC is considering strict punishment like suspending the right to register new subscribers for 3-6 months if telcos are found committing violations of regulations on mobile subscriber management. This is the first time that MIC has put in place heavy sanctions on mobile network operators.
Experts have noted that despite measures to punish violators, junk SIM cards still exist because the regulations are not respected. Despite making repeated promises to prevent the circulation of junk SIM cards, telecom carriers have failed to effectively address the issue and junk SIM cards are still in circulation.
According to MIC, Vietnam has 126 million mobile subscribers, and the market has become saturated. Annually, telecom carriers vie for 800,000 new subscribers, but they cannot alter their market share by simply competing for new subscribers. Hence, it is imperative to strengthen the registration process for new subscribers.
In Ho Chi Minh City, it is not hard to buy a pre-activated SIM card from popular carriers like state-run Viettel for only US$ 3-8.5 without the need to produce identification documents. It can be used instantly when inserted into a mobile phone. The price of a junk SIM card depends on the specific number and current promotion programmes of mobile service providers. For instance, at present, the price for a card from Viettel is US$ 6.8.
By combining junk SIM cards with popular communication apps, criminals can spread fake news or images, building their credibility and gaining the trust of their victims for future scams. The use of virtual phone numbers that are not tied to any specific location or physical device makes managing them extremely challenging. Criminals are exploiting this to activate Over-the-Top (OTT) applications with ease, which can be used for illegal activities.
After 31 March, a large number of mobile subscribers without standardised information will be deactivated. The Deputy Head of the Vietnam Telecommunications Authority explained that it is not feasible to prohibit individuals from owning multiple SIM cards as they may require them for business purposes. However, to limit the use of SIM cards for malicious activities, when an individual wants to own more than three SIM cards, they must sign a contract with the mobile carrier.
The official also highlighted that one of the key priorities of the telecoms industry for 2023 is to fully resolve the problem of SIM cards with incorrect or missing identity information of their owners. Additionally, efforts will be made to raise public awareness about the risks of using junk SIM cards.
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An artificial intelligence (AI)-powered traffic management system has been launched in Goa at Merces junction. The system will assist state authorities with security, signal management, and issuing fines and tickets (challan). The technology automatically detects violations and dispatches an e-challan to the violator’s address, as per a government report.
According to the state’s Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, this is the first signal in Goa that incorporates AI technology. He said that the system will benefit traffic police by enabling them to monitor traffic and enhance security more efficiently.
There will be 16 smart signals aimed at managing traffic in Goa. The technology aims to bring down major accidents in the city. The system can “keep track of the movement of anti-social elements,” the report said. The Chief Minister stated that AI might also be used to make any arrests in the future.
The system has been developed and implemented by a private AI company and deployed at the Merces junction. Goa will expand the scope of implementation on a PPP basis by collaborating with private investment. The signals have been installed at no cost to the state government.
The government does not want people to break rules or take the law into their own hands. The Transport Minister, Mauvin Godingo, noted that although the implementation of the system has begun, the process of issue challenge will be completed by 15 April.
The AI system will reduce human errors and corruption. There will be real-time photographs if someone violates the traffic rules. An official claimed that within the next 15 years, the government will install AI at more locations to monitor roads under the PPP model.
In 2021, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) implemented AI-based technologies to limit road accidents and improve passenger safety in buses. The corporation floated a tender for the implementation of an AI-powered Collision Warning System (CWS) and Driver Drowsiness System (DDS) for 1,044 buses.
In April 2022, under the second phase of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)’s Intelligent Transportation System Endeavor for Indian Cities initiative, an indigenous onboard driver assistance and warning system (ODAWS), a bus signal priority system, and a Common Smart IoT Connectiv (CoSMiC) software were launched.
A few months later, the Bengaluru traffic police rolled out an Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS). Similar to the recently-launched system in Goa, AI-enabled cameras detect traffic violations. The ITMS issues fines through text messages on offenders’ phones.
AI and machine learning (ML) technology are used in the ITMS to identify traffic violations automatically, as OpenGov Asia reported. The ITMS has been installed at 30 traffic junctions across the city. The cameras can detect speed limit violations and red light and stop lane breaches, and offences like helmet-less travel, driving without a seatbelt, triple-riding, and the use of mobile phones while driving.
The system has an AI-enabled solution with 250 automatic number plate recognition cameras and 80 red light violation detection cameras installed at 50 junctions. These cameras, which are active round-the-clock, have saved a lot of manpower, which is redeployed for traffic management and regulation. The data collected is stored on a server owned by traffic police. In the future, the police force plans to track vehicles without number plates and stolen vehicles.
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The quality of Internet service has improved following directives issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC). Globally, Vietnam ranks 39th in terms of fixed Internet.
According to an industry report, the country ranks 52nd globally in mobile Internet speed, a fall of nine places as compared to the month before. The broadband download in February was 42.67 Mbps, while the upload speed was 18.27 Mbps. As for fixed broadband Internet, Vietnam jumped six places to rank 39th, despite issues with submarine fibre optic cables.
It was reported that the average download speed of fixed broadband in Vietnam was 91.6 Mbps, while the upload speed was 93.38 Mbps. The system measuring the Internet access speed in Vietnam (i-SPEED) of the Vietnam Internet Centre (VIC) under MIC has also reported similar results, with average fixed download broadband speed up and mobile broadband down.
The average broadband download speed in Vietnam in February was 89,73 Mpps, up 4.6% over January. Among the centrally run cities, Ho Chi Minh City had the highest fixed broadband download speed (96.55Mbps). The average fixed broadband upload speed of the whole country was 88.71 Mbps (up 4.7%).
As per data from VIC, in terms of mobile Internet, the average download speed of the whole country in February was 36.45 Mbps (down 10.7% over January), while the average upload was 16.19 Mbps (down 6.7%).
The figures from both domestic and international sources indicated that there has been a significant improvement in Vietnam’s fixed Internet speed in February, a considerable achievement considering the several incidents surrounding the submarine fibre optic cables since late 2022. As a solution, MIC has directed telecom carriers to promptly apply measures to fix the problems to ensure smooth international Internet connection.
Under the instructions of the Authority of Telecommunications (AOT), mobile network operators have negotiated to buy more mainland optical fibre capacity and share capacity with each other to overcome the crisis.
MIC has also requested telcos to develop more submarine fibre optic cables to better satisfy users’ demands. Vietnam is using five international submarine fibre optic cables. The government expects the total number of cable routes used in Vietnam to double by 2025. Telcos have noted that the increase in the capacity of international connection on the mainland has helped improve the Internet service quality and the complaints about service quality have decreased.
As a result of better and more easily available Internet connectivity, Vietnam’s digital economy has grown rapidly. Data from MIC showed that the ICT economy’s revenue reached an estimated US$ 148 billion in 2022, representing a year-on-year increase of 8.7%. The contribution of the digital economy to the national GDP in 2022 accounted for about 14.26% of the total, with 7.18% contributed by the ICT digital economy.
As OpenGov Asia reported earlier, IT services have contributed the most to the digital economy, accounting for about 30% of the total value, followed by e-commerce (14.3%) and hardware production (12.83%). The digital content field recorded the strongest growth, up nearly 104% compared to the first quarter of 2022.
MIC developed a strategy for digital technology industry development to 2025 with a vision for 2030. Last year, the ministry announced 35 national digital platforms serving digital transformation and the development of digital government, economy, and society, including 21 developed by domestic digital technology enterprises. These have contributed to facilitating state management and public services.