As part of the Emirate's eGovernment project, Etisalat has linked the Ras Al Khaimah's eGovernment authority with nine local government departments, including the RAK Traffic Police Department, through a high-speed data cable network.
Humaid Sultan Al Suwaidi, General Manager, Etisalat RAK, said the new links are only the first phase in Etisalat's plans for the e-enhancement of the emirate: 'We are in talks now to provide e-payment services via RAK government portal using credit card solutions and the EasyPay services via the BizDirect secure connection from Etisalat,' he said. 'The new payment options will enable charging solutions and secure money transfer between the different departments'.
Al Suwaidi also said Etisalat is considering adding electronic services such as SMS to provide the public with an additional layer of access. 'Having an SMS component will make it easier for the e-government to reach the people,' he said. 'We are also in talks to link the services of 'e4me' to the eGovernment portal to provide customers with easy electronic payment options.'
In addition, efforts are currently targeting linking Etisalat's B2B portal with the eGovernment to provide secure transactions in the fields of accounting, displaying and paying bills, subscription to added-value services and ticketing.
The collaboration marks the second phase of the Ras Al Khaimah's eGovernment project, and follows the directives of HH Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler, Ras Al Khaimah.
'The eGovernment project developed in collaboration with Etisalat aims to provide proper electronic infrastructure for services that facilitate the web to serve individuals as well as regional and international companies in order to encourage investments in the Emirate.', Dr. Hashim Al Rifaee, Government Information Technology Consultant, General Manager, RAK eGovernment said, 'We thank Etisalat for its support, which reflects its deep involvement in the different practices of the government.'
Etisalat has a history of contributing to the development and application of electronic solutions and systems in the UAE. It played a key role in building the infrastructure of the Dubai eGovernment project and has helped boost the profile of information and communication technologies in the country to international levels.
Autor(en)/Author(s): Lara Lynn Golden
Quelle/Source: AME Info, 15.09.2006
