Public funds to make online services affordable

Growing government spending on information and communications technology (ICT) in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to make online services affordable and accessible to the public, IDC predicts.

The region will fork out US$154 billion on ICT in 2008, and e-government spending will exceed US$31 billion by the end of 2010, the research firm said.

China's public sector market is expected to be worth US$11.7 billion in 2010, accounting for 36.9 percent of the region's government IT spend.

Meanwhile, India and Vietnam's expenditure is forecast to be the fastest growing, with a five-year annual compound growth rate of 16 percent each. Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan are expected to grow at 3 to 5 percent until 2010, predicts IDC.

However, despite the positive outlook, Asian countries ranked less favorably than other countries in the United Nations (U.N.) 2008 E-Government Readiness Index. The index assesses 192 U.N. member states on their application of ICT to serve and interact with citizens.

Asia's score of 0.447 fared slightly below the world average of 0.4514. South Korea, ranking sixth, is the only Asian country to be among the top 10.

In addition, India fell 26 notches to 113th position; the Philippines ranked 66, down from 41 in 2005; and Singapore and Thailand were placed 23rd and 62nd, respectively.

The good news is Cambodia, Malaysia and Vietnam rose through the ranks to 115th, 34th and 91st positions, respectively.

ZDNet Asia looks at some of Asia's key e-government initiatives that are ongoing:

China
In the run up to the 2008 Olympic Games, the public security ministry has been working with Interpol to tighten security for the sports event. Measures include setting up the passport and visa application screening process to identify stolen, lost and fake travel documents. In fact, the Security Industry Association predicts that the Chinese government will spend US$300 million alone on security.

The government also aims to finish linking all departments at the central and local levels by 2009 through a backbone network, reports the Xinhua News Agency . Launched in September 2007, this network provides each department access to the internal system and the Web.

China's central government launched its Web site in 2006, allowing the public to access 1,100 services provided by 71 departments, Xinhua  reported. Services include tourism information during the "golden week"--which is a seven-day national holiday--civil service examinations, and consumer protection services.

In Hong Kong, the government is installing Wi-Fi facilities in 350 government premises such as libraries, public enquiry service centers, community halls, parks and government buildings. The roll-out, under the GovWiFi project, is expected to end in mid-2009, enabling the public to access the Internet via their mobile devices.

Singapore
In the second quarter, the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) will call for bids for the national broadband network (NBN) project.

The operating company will build the NBN's active infrastructure, including the switches and transmission equipment needed to manage the flow of network traffic. Touted to provide broadband access speeds of more than 1Gbps, the network will be available across Singapore by 2015.

The IDC will appoint the winning bidder in the third quarter of 2008, and the Singapore government will grant up to S$750 million (US$528 million) for the project, with the remaining cost to be determined and funded by the bidder.

Meanwhile, the government is expected to award the tender award for the S$1.5 billion (US1.06 billion) Standard ICT Operating Environment project in February this year.

The project, targeted for completion by 2010, aims to create a common government infocomm infrastructure to enhance operational efficiency and cut government IT spending by 30 percent. The project will involve standardizing the desktop, messaging and network environments across public sector agencies in Singapore, excluding the defense ministry.

Malaysia
Against the backdrop of slow broadband connection speeds and a lack of critical mass of broadband users in Malaysia, the government aims to have a penetration rate of 50 percent by 2010, up from the current 12 percent.

Fixed-line carrier Telekom Malaysia (TM) clinched the 15.2 billion ringgit (US$4.7 billion) high-speed broadband services project, with the government offering to fund 30 percent of the investment. The project is expected to span 10 years.

The country also has big plans on the mobile front. However, while licenses have been awarded to four telcos to offer WiMax services by end-2007, actual roll-outs are only expected to start in mid-2008.

Michael Lai, CEO of WiMax licensee PacketOne, noted that when WiMax is readily supported in handheld devices, the wireless technology will spur ubiquitous mobile broadband usage in Malaysia.

The Philippines
Following President Gloria Arroyo's order to suspend the country's broadband network deal with China's network equipment maker ZTE, the department of transportation and communications is expected to push ahead this year with the government broadband network project.

The three-year project aims to build a platform for voice, data and video connectivity within and among government agencies, as well as government-owned and -controlled companies.

Eena Lai is a freelance IT writer based in Singapore.