AiTi to develop plan to up broadband service

THE Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AiTi) has enlisted foreign consultants Analysys Mason Limited for the development of a Broadband Strategic Plan to address public concerns about current broadband services in the country. AiTi Assistant Chief Executive of Corporate Strategy Julianah Hj Ali Ahmad revealed this information to The Brunei Times on the sidelines of a signing agreement between AiTi and Analysys Mason Limited yesterday.

"Broadband here has been a big talk in Brunei. The current broadband service in Brunei is a problem because it does not meet what customers want. So that is why we have engaged these consultants to see what best suits requirements of users in Brunei," she said.

Julianah added that the consultants will be looking into addressing the quality of broadband services in Brunei, such as what would be the best speeds and technology for Brunei to use. She explained that Brunei has been using copper cables for (ethernet) lines and this has limited capabilities for developing high speeds. "So we have to replace it with fibre-based network as it provides an almost unlimited bandwidth," said Julianah.

However, as fibre-technology is expensive, Julianah said that the consultants had to advise AiTi on how the government could invest in the technology.

"This fibre-technology is something everyone can have access to and is something we have to make sure of," she said.

Analysys Mason Limited Senior Manager Paul Sumner during his presentation explained that the fixed broadband in Brunei was expensive compared to other countries in the region.

"Brunei's broadband can (accommodate) about one megabit per second downstream. For the same price in countries like Singapore and Hong Kong, they can get 30 megabits per second," he said, adding that the consultants will be looking into how to address the expensive price in Brunei.

In order to have a successful broadband policy, Sumner said that a "virtuous circle" was the key in stimulating supply and demand. He added that the consultants would have seven to eight weeks to work on the plan, which will be completed and presented to AiTi on March 17.

According to AiTi, Brunei is heading towards a knowledge-based economy and it is crucial that AiTi has a platform to support access to highly-developed ICT (info-communication technology) infrastructure, including high-capacity broadband networks. "This means building a robust and future-proof infrastructure that is not only widely accessible to each citizen, but also capable of delivering high-speed bandwidth services to each user," according to a press release from AiTi yesterday.

The main outcomes of the strategic plan will include a general review of the existing broadband policy and strategies, quantification of broadband vision and target settings as well as recommendations on the best modalities for investment in the infrastructure build out, and implementation plan for building the next generation broadband infrastructure.

AiTi recognises that over the last few years, Brunei has witnessed a tremendous growth of broadband users and that broadband is becoming important in all aspects of economic and social lives.

On hand to sign the agreement yesterday were AiTi Chief Executive Pg Hj Mohd Zain Pg Hj Abd Razak, AiTi Assistant Chief Executive of Corporate Strategy Julianah Hj Ali Ahmad, Assistant Chief Executive of Corporate Services Hj Jamaludin Hj Saman, Analysys Mason Limited Senior Manager Paul Sumner and Analysys Mason Limited Consultant Emil Arnell.

The signing, which was held at the AiTi office in Anggerek Desa, was also witnessed by Ministry of Communications' Permanent Secretary and Chairman of AiTi, Hj Alaihuddin POKDG Hj Mohd Taha.The Brunei Times

Prioritisation Of E-Govt Projects For 2010 Will Be Based On Their Merits

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Prime Minister's Office has successfully organised the first E-Government Leadership Forum (EGLF) meeting for 2010. According to a press release, the forum was chaired by Dato Seri Paduka Awang Eussoff Haji Agaki bin Haji Ismail, the Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Chairman of EGLF.

During the meeting, members comprising permanent secretaries of each government ministry discussed achievements made during 2009 as well as plans for 2010. One of the major milestones last year was the launching of the 2009-2014 e-Government Strategic Plan. To date, 35 projects have been approved by EGLF since March 2007.

According to the press release, prioritisation of projects for 2010 will be based on a number of characteristics namely 'multiple-agency', `connectivity', `interactivity and transactional', as well as `providing the highest impact to citizens and government'.

Through this, several flagship projects will be identified. So far, three of the flagship projects that have been identified are Business Licensing System, ePayment and Government Employee Management System (GEMS).

Emphasis has been placed on improving project management structure through the setting up of steering committees to oversee the flagship projects, the statement added. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

EGLF Puts Focus On Flagship Projects

Bandar Seri Begawan - The first e-Government Leadership Forum (EGLF) for 2010 has introduced the prioritisation of projects where several flagship projects will be identified with emphasis on improving project management structure through the setting up of steering committees to oversee the projects.

The flagship projects will be selected based on its characteristics, namely multiple agency, connectivity, interactivity and transactional as well as providing the highest impact w the government and public. Three of the flagship projects identified are the Business Licencing System, ePayment and Government Employee Management System (Gems).

To date, them am 35 approved projects since March 2007 with EGLFs major milestone achievement being the launch of the e-Government Strategic Plan 2009-2014 last year.

A spokesperson for e-Government said that aspirations and motivations are high to meet the public's satisfaction. The EGLF has taken a "whole-of-govemment" perspective towards the e-Government initiatives that promotes cross-agency cooperation. He added that its success depends on the constructive collaboration from all stakeholders namely the government, businesses and citizens.

Present at the forum was Deputy Minister at the Prime minister's office, Data Seri Paduka l lj Eusoff Agaki Hj Ismail as chairman of the forum, along with EGLF Secretary Saiful Rhymin C A Mohamed, and Hj Azhar Hj Ahead, Director of the e-Government National Centre (EGNC), and permanent secretaries from each of the ministries in the country.

The EGLF was launched yesterday by the Prime Minister's Office and was held at The Empire Hotel & Country Club. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

This is taken from a website..talking about egnc brunei

the article below is taken from the blog mentioned here.

WILL EGNC MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN BRUNEI EGOVERNMENT DEVELOPMENT?

December 22, 2009, 8:10 pm
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: brunei egovernment egnc

Or will it slow things down?

Have anyone read the EGNC staff complaining on Brudirect/HYS regarding their superior? Thats not good is it. If internal affair cant be sorted out, then, how are they going to invigilate the whole nation’s e-government system implementation?

EGNC is taking control over the hardwares and softwares that goes in into the government. Just few months ago, a company is having problem trying to get quotation for Microsoft Office Products to be supplied for one of the Government’s agencies. Weeks and weeks waited, no quotation were received from vendors. Why ? Because EGNC halted the process. Why? Because theyre not ready yet.

But this particular government department needed this softwares.

Yes I know, but EGNC isincharge now, and theyre telling all vendors to put their hands down.

Why?

I dont know.

So the question is, will EGNC make a difference in the e-government development?

EGNC Official Site

Do you know how far off are we in the e-government? Lets compare with UK. There were 2 phases. The first phase is To Computerize the Government System. They’ve done that already. The second phase is Connecting the Public to the e-Government.

Basically with this system, a British dude will have his personal section on the government system. There contains his personal information such as identity and address etc. On top of that, the system keep tracks of the bristish’s dude health (it’s connect to NHS) so if theres any doctor appointment, the system will notify the British dude. His doctor will also be able to keep in touch with him.

Think of it as, e-Gov 2.0.

Not only that, with this system as well, the British dude can buy his groceries via the system. Im not kidding you.

Now in Brunei, we’re still in the process to computerize the government. There are still departments that is using the paperbased solution. Seriously, Bruneians are way too confortable to be able to move on.

Oh yeah, another thing that ive learnt is that, the egovernment system in UK, is done by ONE COMPANY ONLY. AND ITS ONE HUGE COMPANY. Why is this a factor?

One company that connects all ministry together. All ministries will be running on the same platform. Same based. Easier to connect to one another. Easier to share information. Easier to maintan the system.

In Brunei, shit loads of companies. Different department in the govebrnment, is computerized by different vendors, using different systems and with different platform. For instance, MOE, using Apple Mac, while the rest of the ministries is using Windows platform.

There will always be compatibility issues.

This is just my thoughts. Who knows, maybe there are super geniuses working in EGNC right?

But really, how long have it been =) Want to make a difference? Dont make us wait.