IfG.CC - The Potsdam eGovernment Competence Center

“Central G-Cloud is set up as the new central whole-of-government infrastructure for agencies to reap the benefits of cloud computing,” said James Kang, Assistant Chief Executive, Government Chief Information Office, Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) to FutureGov Asia Pacific.

“The adoption of cloud computing for the next central whole-of-government infrastructure is a timely next step in this journey towards a new platform that will be more agile and more resilient.”

The integration of AI and the connected devices of the IoT - having been anticipated for years to solve social issues such as in the form of smart cities - is now on its way to making inroads in multiple sectors and creating opportunities for genuine digital transformation. Such transformation will be crucial in the shift towards truly smart cities, which has been given further impetus by the pandemic.

But among the technological bottlenecks to full deployment are delays due to connecting to internet servers and the capacity limits of the microchips installed on devices and components.

In August 2006, then-CEO of Google, Eric Schmidt, introduced the phrase ‘Cloud Computing’ during a keynote presentation. That was five years ago, and roughly marked the start of the ICT industry’s interest in cloud architectures. But was Google really the first company to come up with the term – a neologism, which still doesn’t appear in the Oxford English Dictionary, but doubtless soon will? Here’s what Schmidt actually said: “What's interesting is that there is an emergent new model. I don’t think people have really understood how big this opportunity really is. It starts with the premise that the data services and architecture should be on servers. We call it cloud computing – they should be in a cloud somewhere.”

With many organisations now having completed their move to cloud, some may be wondering what’s next for digital transformation. Successfully migrating some or all workloads to the cloud doesn’t mean an organisation’s digital transformation is complete. It’s essential for organisations to continue down the path of adaptation to ensure agility and gaining of continuous value from ever-evolving cloud platforms and infrastructure assets, according to Intergen.

Joe Newton, principal solution specialist, Intergen, said, “Organisations are continuing to operate in an uncertain environment with no guarantee of what will happen tomorrow. By adopting a controlled and methodical approach to operating platforms with modern managed service organisations, businesses can ensure their platforms and technology investments are well managed, reliable, and resilient.”

The Ministry of Public Administration and Security (MOSPA) announced on September 2 that it has undertaken projects for the development of an e-Government standard framework through the National Information Society Agency (NIA). Based on those projects, MOSPA will be actively engaged in developing the framework starting next year.

The e-Government Standard Framework is an infrastructure environment for implementing various e-government applications. It aims to increase the quality of e-Government services, the efficiency of IT investment and the standardisation and the reusability of applications through establishing and applying an accepted development framework standard.

According to ICTA CEO Reshan Dewapura, the LGC is one of the agency’s key projects that seeks to deliver eServices to the public with the kind of efficiency never before seen or experienced in the country.

The LGC facility is securely located in the hub of Lanka Government Network which has been set up in a rented space of a Sri Lankan data centre.

5G has the potential to accelerate the transformation of Saudi Arabia’s most lucrative industries and fueling the growth of emerging technologies like IoT, AI, and cloud and edge computing.

5G not only offers important breakthroughs for Saudi Arabia’s most profitable industries, including gas and oil, logistics, and services, but has the potential to drive innovation through IoT-powered smart cities. The kingdom is an established 5G pioneer not only in the Gulf region, where it ranks closely to the UAE and Qatar, but globally, where it consistently ranks among the highest available speeds worldwide.

Cloud strategist Geva Perry agreed with that sentiment. According to Perry, who gave a keynote of his own, cloud and software-as-a-service adoption actually is happening in the enterprise from the bottom up, often starting without the CIO’s knowledge.

Availability of affordable connectivity and improved budgetary allocations by companies and governments have allowed increased investments in cloud services in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Google, MTN, Internet Solutions and Vodacom Group provide a large percentage of cloud services, driven by affordable connectivity, although the feeling is that there is need for awareness on the value of cloud services.

The platform, which was commissioned by the Taichung City Government, will integrate the city’s digital map libraries including urban planning and cadastral map libraries, and will allow users to browse records concerning the city’s major construction projects and tenders.

The project made use of Google Earth Enterprise cloud technology and Google historical image browsing technology to allow users to access their own private “Earth” to search and browse city government map layers in 3-D.

The lab is part of the government’s plans to enhance the use of cloud computing in Taiwan. Earlier this month, the government announced a NT$7 billion (US$237.3 million) cloud-building programme to encourage growth in Taiwan’s information and communication technology sector and improve government services and functions.

Driving the industry to unlock the potential of cloud for Thailand

The adoption of cloud computing is now such a widespread and influential trend that it cannot be ignored. Its growth is based on various benefits including cost, elasticity, scalability and ease of deployment. For industries that have long struggled to meet increasing IT requirements using server-based architectures, the range of services, systems and architectures that make up ‘the cloud’ may represent a long-overdue solution.

Yet the cloud is a disruptive technology with the power to alter significantly the housing, management and delivery of IT. Adoption has been hesitant as organisations across the world have talked the talk, rather than walked the walk in regard to cloud. It is still evident today that cloud sits outside the comfort zone of many IT professionals and C-level managers. Cloud adoption raises issue of security, service levels, management, system stability and provider trust. The leap that may be required may challenge the skills and confidence of organisations when implementing and using the cloud.

Deputy Prime Minister Air Chief Marshal Prajin Janthong arrived in Phuket yesterday (June 9) to promote a roadshow highlighting the government’s move towards providing cloud-based e-services

At the public launched for the “Gov Channel Roadshow 2017: Digital Local Government”, held at the Novotel Phuket Phokeethra hotel in Phuket Town, ACM Prajin said, “Phuket as a Smart City is to be a role model for other provinces, with technological infrastructure developed to make people’s digital lives easier.”

The cabinet on Tuesday approved 4.75 billion baht to finance the Government Data Center and Cloud (GDCC) service between 2020 and 2022.

Rachada Dhanadirek, the deputy government spokesman, said the GDCC is the central cloud system to be used by government agencies, ensuring safety and serving as a big data facility for state agencies when disasters occur.

Information and Communications Technology Minister Anudith Nakornthap said at the launch today that the scheme should help reduce the government's IT spending by at least 30 per cent, while ensuring regularly updated technology as well as advancement in electronics-based public services.

He noted that each year, government units spent nearly Bt50 billion on hardware and software, but they ended up buying old but pricey technology.

“This is to promote cloud awareness and encourage local developers to provide more software as a service (SaaS) on cloud. Currently, thai software companies don’t seem to be aware of the importance of being on cloud platform, so there are only a few thai software available under SaaS model,” said Software Park’s Director Dr Thanachart Numnonda.

Dr Sak Segkhoonthod, President and CEO of the EGA announced that the EGA’s focus in 2013 will be to provide more Software as a Service (SaaS), creating a Government Application Centre (GAC), and pushing forward Open Government IT project to further integrate data and services for citizens, and lastly implementing ‘Smart Box’ programme to connect with and deliver government services for remote communities.

The topic of G-Cloud attracted wide attention from the audience as a response to its nationwide implementation starting in April. Many agencies are on the waiting list to use the G-Cloud facility provided by Electronic Government Agency (EGA). Therefore, the forum was the first occasion for government ICT decision makers and executives to gather at the same venue for in-depth discussions about G-Cloud’s prospects.

The launch of the e-CMS system for the government — called “e-Saraban as a Service on G-Cloud” or “e-Saraban” in short — was announced in the seminar for public hearing about the CMS standard, organised by the Electronic Government Agency. ICT Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Chaiyan Peungkiatpairote presided over the event in front of the government officers in charge of operating CMS system from different agencies.